By: Our Correspondent
Connected Development (CODE), through its Gender Education Project (GEP), facilitated an inspirational engagement between girls participating in the project and the Commissioner for Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination, Hajiya Amina Muhammed Katagum.
The engagement provided the girls with an opportunity to interact directly with a woman occupying a senior leadership position in government and to learn from her personal journey into public service.
During the interaction
The Commissioner shared her leadership journey, highlighting sincerity as an important quality of effective leadership, and encouraged the girls to remain focused on their education, believe in themselves and pursue their aspirations with determination.
She also emphasised the importance of girls’ education and encouraged the girls to understand that they can achieve anything they set their minds to.
The Commissioner shared that she is the first female Commissioner to hold the position, providing the girls with a powerful example of women’s participation and leadership in public decision-making.
The engagement also built directly on the girls’ participation in the 2027 Bauchi State Budget Public Consultation, where they were able to raise issues affecting their education and school environment.
Following the consultation, CODE and the girls presented a consolidated Gender-Responsive Education Sector Planning and Budgeting (GRESP) to the Commissioner, reflecting the priorities raised by the girls.
The girls concern serve as an input towards the 2027 State Budget, with the aim of ensuring that the girls’ identified needs are considered within education planning and budgeting in line with the international best practice.
The engagement demonstrates the unwavering commitment of the Bauchi State government inclusivity in governance and importance of creating meaningful spaces for girls not only to learn, but also to speak, participate and influence decisions that affect their education and future.
“Girls should not only be beneficiaries of education budgets; their voices should also help shape the decisions and investments that affect their education.”
Through Girls Edycation Project, Connected Development continues to work with government and citizens to strengthen gender-responsive education planning, citizen participation and accountability in Bauchi State.
The Commissioner with one of the girls
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