The Centre for Girls’ Education (CGE), has hailed the Kaduna State government for institutionalising life skills and gender in education as compulsory policies in all public schools.

The State Executive Council, chaired by Governor Uba Sani, approved the Kaduna State Life Skills Policy and the Policy on Gender in Education, SPGE 2026–2030, on Wednesday.

CGE Executive Director, Habiba Mohammed, in a press statement issued to The Guardian on Thursday, called the decision “a landmark day for education in Kaduna State.

She said the decision has shifted the approach from temporary projects to a sustainable, government-led system.

“The Life Skills Policy equips young people with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values they need to succeed in education, employment and life beyond school,” she stated.

On the gender policy, CGE said the framework would promote equity, inclusion, participation, retention, completion and improved learning outcomes for all learners.

The organisation noted that embedding the policies into the state system moves both issues “from the margins of the classroom into the core of the Kaduna State education system.”

Habiba said her organisation supported the development of the frameworks through its System Strengthening project with Co-Impact, OASIS Initiative and the Malala Fund.

“Drawing from CGE’s Safe Space model, which evaluations show has reduced child marriage and increased enrolment, institutionalising the policy will make life skills education permanent”, she noted.

The policies, she said, are expected to address structural barriers to schooling, especially for girls, vulnerable learners, and make life skills co-curricular instead of donor-dependent; ground decisions in data across all 23 Local Government Areas; and ensure sustainability beyond political cycles.

She thanked Governor Uba Sani “for his leadership and political will” and Commissioner for Education, Professor Abubakar Sani Sambo, “who chaired the validation process from the beginning.”

CGE also acknowledged AGILE Kaduna, the World Bank, KADSSEB, KSSQAA, and community leaders, adding that “this achievement is the product of collective commitments.”

The organisation pledged to support the full implementation of the policies and teacher training, gender responsive budgeting and monitoring, so that every girl and boy in Kaduna State can learn, grow and thrive.