Married adolescent girls in Bugau, Damau Ward of Kubau Local Government Area, Kaduna State, are returning to the classroom after early marriage disrupted their education. The women attend literacy classes four times a week, learning to read and write in Hausa and English while balancing motherhood, marriage and other responsibilities.
For girls such as 15-year-old Basira Isah, 14-year-old Hadiza Danjuma and 14-year-old Zainab Shehu, schooling ended when they were married. Their experiences reflect a wider challenge in Kaduna, where early marriage and limited access to education continue to affect girls, particularly in rural communities. The 2021 Nigeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey found that 45.3 per cent of women aged 20 to 49 in Kaduna entered marriage or union before age 18.
The literacy programme began in February after the Participatory Communication for Gender Development (PAGED) Initiative trained some married adolescents on literacy and the importance of education. The girls subsequently went from house to house encouraging other married women who had dropped out of school to return to learning, with support from their husbands and the traditional leadership in Bugau.
The programme has already produced noticeable progress, with some participants learning to read, write and identify numbers, while others can now write their names and prepare simple shopping lists. The women say the skills are also helping them support their children with schoolwork and become more confident in their daily activities.
The initiative, however, faces challenges including inadequate learning spaces, teaching materials and teachers. Community leaders are considering ways to provide exercise books, writing materials, books and whiteboards, while efforts continue to secure a suitable permanent venue. Despite the obstacles, the women remain determined to continue their education and encourage others who missed out on schooling to return to the classroom.
Commentary by Aisha Gambo, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
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