By Taibat Ummi Yakubu

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has launched a three-day town hall meeting in Katsina State aimed at giving girls and adolescents a stronger voice in decisions affecting their future while creating pathways for greater educational, social and economic opportunities.

The initiative, which began on Thursday in Katsina, brought together a diverse group of participants, including pupils, students, parents, teachers, education administrators, traditional leaders and other stakeholders to discuss issues affecting young people, particularly girls, across selected communities in the state.

Organised under UNICEF’s Co-Creation Initiative for Girls, the engagement is designed to move beyond conventional consultations by placing girls at the centre of conversations about their development. The programme provides a platform for adolescents to openly identify the challenges they face, share their experiences and contribute ideas that reflect their aspirations and realities.

Participants drawn from both primary and secondary schools took part in the discussions. At the primary school level, education secretaries, head teachers, pupils, parents and traditional leaders engaged in dialogue, while principals, directors, teachers and students participated in separate sessions focused on secondary education and adolescent development.

Speaking during the event, UNICEF’s Adolescent Development Specialist, Ms Ngozi Izuora-Songu, said the organisation was committed to ensuring that programmes designed for girls are informed by the voices and experiences of the girls themselves.

According to her, the town hall meetings are intended to identify opportunities already available within participating communities and explore ways of connecting girls to those opportunities while addressing barriers that limit their progress.

She explained that Katsina, Kaita and Dutsi Local Government Areas were selected for the initial phase of the engagement, with stakeholders expected to jointly examine the realities facing adolescents and identify practical solutions.

Izuora-Songu noted that information gathered from the discussions would help shape future interventions, ensuring that programmes, skills training and support initiatives are tailored to the actual needs of girls rather than assumptions about those needs.

She said the ultimate goal was to ensure that girls are not merely beneficiaries of development programmes but active contributors to the design and implementation of initiatives affecting their lives.

Also speaking at the meeting, UNICEF focal person, Ms Hauwa Kaikai, said the initiative targets both boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 19, including adolescents who are currently out of school.

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She explained that participants would be equipped with knowledge and practical skills, including vocational training opportunities, to help them better understand challenges within their communities and develop effective responses.

According to Kaikai, the programme will also encourage adolescents to take part in developing communication materials and messages that address issues affecting young people.

She added that some of the participants would later participate in radio programmes through live discussions and recorded broadcasts, creating additional platforms for adolescents to share their perspectives and contribute to conversations on development issues.

Traditional institutions also expressed support for the initiative.

Representing traditional leaders, Malam Zubairu commended UNICEF and the Katsina State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) for collaborating to create a platform that brings together schools, parents, community leaders and young people.

He noted that meaningful engagement with girls and adolescents is critical to understanding the challenges they face and developing solutions that can produce lasting results.

The town hall meeting is expected to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders while ensuring that the voices of girls and adolescents are heard in discussions surrounding education, skills development, leadership opportunities and community development.

For many participants, the engagement represents more than a meeting. It is an opportunity for girls to speak directly about their hopes, challenges and ambitions, while influencing programmes that could shape their future and expand opportunities within their communities.