By Usman Ahmed Shehu
Connected Development (CODE), with support from the Malala Fund, has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding access to quality education for girls in Bauchi State through sustained mentorship, leadership and entrepreneurship programmes under its Girl-Child Education Project (GEP).
The commitment was reiterated during a capacity-building training for mentors and the unveiling of the project’s second-year curriculum, at Yimir Suits, Bauchi, designed to strengthen the implementation of the initiative across the four benefiting Local Government Areas of the state.
Speaking at the event, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Connected Development and Girl-Child Education Project Coordinator, Hyeladzira James Mshelia, expressed delight over the impact the project has continued to make on the lives of participating girls.
She noted that the programme has recorded significant progress, with the girls demonstrating improved confidence, leadership qualities and entrepreneurial skills, while also sharing the knowledge gained with their peers in school.
According to her, the mentorship structure has grown remarkably from four girls under a mentor to about 40 girls across yhe LGAs, with plans to expand the programme further before the end of the project.
Mshelia explained that beyond encouraging school enrolment and retention, the project equips girls with practical entrepreneurship and leadership skills that make them financially empowered and better prepared to face real-life challenges.
In her remarks, the Deputy Director of Budget, Hajiya Aisha Adamu Hussaini, disclosed that the Bauchi State Ministry of Budget, Planning and Multilateral Coordination has begun working with the Ministry of Education to compile data on Connected Development’s interventions for inclusion in the state’s budget as capital receipts.
She said the initiative would ensure proper documentation of development partners’ contributions, strengthen government planning and provide reliable records for future reference.
Also speaking, the Bauchi State Commander of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Aliyu Abba Kalli, highlighted the agency’s mandate to protect children and women against trafficking, sexual abuse, harassment and other forms of gender-based violence.
He encouraged members of the public to promptly report cases of abuse and exploitation through NAPTIP’s official hotlines to enable the agency to take swift action.
The training further highlighted Connected Development’s holistic approach to girl-child education, which focuses not only on returning girls to school but also on ensuring they remain in school, complete their education, transition to higher institutions and acquire entrepreneurial and leadership skills that will enable them to become self-reliant and productive members of society.
The unveiling of the second-year curriculum marks another milestone in the Girl-Child Education Project, reinforcing Connected Development’s commitment, with support from the Malala Fund, to creating brighter opportunities for girls across Bauchi State.
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