Empowering Women for Better Education: The WAGE Project

NANA’s Women Advocacy Groups for Education (WAGE) initiative empowers women to advocate for improved education in seven LGAs under the State2State program: Binji, Gwadabawa, Wurno, Tambuwal, Yabo, Sokoto South, and Sokoto North.

WAGE focuses on two key objectives:

  1. Advocating for increased funding for primary and junior secondary schools.
  2. Promoting accountability in school management and governance.

With support from partners like the State Ministry of Education, SUBEB, and local leaders, 21 WAGE groups (84 members) were trained in advocacy, accountability, and monitoring school performance. These women now conduct advocacy visits, gather community feedback, and provide updates to mothers, driving meaningful change in education.

This initiative amplifies women’s voices and fosters accountability for better education outcomes in their communities.

Key Achievements of the Project

  1. Women Empowerment: Trained 84 women to advocate for accountability and better basic education services.
  2. Education Support: Boosted enrollment and retention of vulnerable children through the distribution of uniforms and learning materials.
  3. Gender Norms Challenged: Encouraged women’s participation in community development, promoting gender equality.
  4. Community Advocacy: Mobilized community reporting on key educational issues, including enrollment, retention, and school improvement.
  5. Philanthropic Impact: Secured ₦1.2 million, 650 uniforms, thousands of exercise books, and 200 school bags, benefiting 605 pupils across six LGAs.
  6. Improved Staffing: Advocacies led to the deployment of 27 teachers to underserved schools.
  7. Infrastructure Upgrades: Renovated classrooms and offices and installed a water supply system in two LGAs.

These efforts have significantly advanced education and community transformation.

 
total of less privileged pupils across 6 LGA benefitted from the items distributed by the WAGE groups.
0
Yabo 16.1%
Sokoto South 24.7%
Binji 30.9%
Sokoto North 6.6%
Tambuwal 11.5%
Wurno 9.9%

Challenges and Adjustments in Project Implementation

  • Schools in two LGAs were selected based on stakeholder input, focusing on four hard-to-reach areas affected by security concerns, which disrupted planned activities.
  • Replacing and training 15 non-literate WAGE members created additional costs for NANA.
  • Insecurity in Gwadabawa restricted WAGE advocacy efforts.
  • Advocacy visits were delayed during Hajj due to the unavailability of key philanthropists.
  • Some philanthropists showed limited responsiveness.
  • Most commitments were pledges, requiring persistent follow-up to ensure fulfillment.