State 2 State

The USAID-funded project, “Creating a Network of Women Advocacy Groups to Demand for Quality Service Delivery in Basic Education,” implemented by NANA, empowers women to hold service providers accountable for delivering quality education. NANA believes improving education in Sokoto State requires increasing girls’ enrollment, retention, and transition rates. Many mothers are hesitant to keep their daughters in school due to poor teaching, inadequate staffing, and insufficient infrastructure.
A mother lamented that her two children graduated junior secondary school unable to read or write, viewing their time in school as wasted. This reflects a broader crisis in Sokoto, where secondary school enrollment is 35.66%, and girls’ completion rates drop to just 17.28% for senior secondary school (Nigeria Education Indicators, 2016).
NANA identifies underfunding, mismanagement, and the lack of women’s voices in school governance as key issues. The organization is working to empower women to lead change and advocate for better education for all children.

Women Advocacy Groups for Education (WAGE) Project

The WAGE project empowers women to actively participate in their children’s education across seven LGAs in Sokoto State: Binji, Gwadabawa, Wurno, Tambuwal, Yabo, Sokoto South, and North. It focuses on advocating for increased school funding, improving accountability in school management, and equipping women with skills to monitor and provide feedback on school performance.

Objectives:

  • Advocate for increased funding for basic education.
  • Promote accountability in school financial management.
  • Enable WAGE members to monitor and document school performance.

Key Achievements:

  • Established and trained 21 WAGE groups with 84 members on advocacy and accountability.
  • Supported WAGE in gathering community feedback on school performance.
  • Facilitated advocacy visits to education stakeholders.
  • Enabled WAGE to provide regular updates to local women.

The project fosters women’s leadership in education, driving improvements through advocacy and collaboration with local stakeholders.

Key Interventions (Core Activities)

Advocacy and sensitization efforts targeted key stakeholders, including ministries, SUBEB, and local governments, to raise awareness about the initiative. The project drew inspiration from the historical Nana Asma’u Yan’taru movement. WAGE groups were formed across seven LGAs, comprising 21 groups and 84 women, with members selected based on criteria such as having schoolchildren, basic education, and the inclusion of persons living with disabilities (PLWD).
A co-creation meeting was held with education stakeholders to develop strategies and implementation plans. Members were trained on advocacy, voice, accountability, and the use of feedback mechanisms to ensure active participation in school management. A feedback system was introduced to collect, act on, and respond to women’s voices through quarterly meetings, fostering better communication between schools and communities.
Advocacy campaigns were a core focus, with 69 visits conducted to engage key stakeholders. These efforts exceeded targets in several LGAs and led to significant outcomes, including ₦1.2 million in cash donations, 650 uniforms, 200 school bags, and over 2,000 exercise books. Additionally, advocacy resulted in the recruitment of 27 teachers, classroom renovations, and the installation of water supplies in some schools.
All resources and support gathered during advocacy were distributed to underprivileged students through ceremonies held at the LGA level, where supporters were recognized and appreciated.

Key Achievements of the Project

  • Empowering Women: Trained 84 women to advocate for accountability and improved basic education.
  • Boosted School Enrollment: Provided uniforms and materials, increasing enrollment and retention for orphans, vulnerable children, and IDPs.
  • Challenged Gender Norms: Promoted women’s involvement in community development, driving gender and social transformation.
  • Community Engagement: WAGE efforts led to increased reporting of education issues, including enrollment, retention, and school improvements.
  • Philanthropic Support: Raised ₦1.2 million, 650 uniforms, thousands of exercise books, and 200 school bags, benefiting 605 pupils across six LGAs.
  • Teacher Deployment: Secured the posting of 27 teachers to underserved schools through advocacy.
  • Infrastructure Improvements: Renovated classrooms, repaired school facilities, and installed tap water systems in targeted LGAs.

These successes highlight the project’s positive impact on education and community progress.

Challenges in WAGE Activities and Advocacy Efforts

  • School Selection and Security: Four schools in hard-to-reach areas were selected, but security issues and group restructuring delayed activities.
  • WAGE Member Replacement: Non-literate members were replaced, requiring additional training and expenses.
  • Insecurity Impact: Advocacy efforts in Gwadabawa were hindered by security concerns.
  • Hajj Postponements: Advocacy visits were delayed as key philanthropists were unavailable during Hajj.
  • Limited Philanthropist Response: Some philanthropists were unresponsive, with most support limited to pledges requiring follow-up.