By Khalid Idris Doya The Bauchi state government in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has commemo...
By Khalid Idris Doya
The Bauchi state government in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has commemorated the 2026 International Women's Day with a renewed call for improved access to quality education and healthcare services for women as key drivers of national development.
Speaking during the IWD held at Hazibal hotel Bauchi yesterday, the Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board, Dr. Rilwanu Muhammad, stressed the importance of recognising and protecting the rights of women while promoting their empowerment in society.
He explained that International Women's Day is set aside by the United Nations to recognise the contributions of women and to advocate for their rights to life, employment and justice.
Rilwanu highlighted several initiatives introduced by the Bauchi State Government to support women's empowerment, including the approval of six months maternity leave for pregnant mothers and flexible working hours for breastfeeding mothers. However, he noted that the maternity leave policy is yet to be ratified by the Bauchi State House of Assembly.
He also drew attention to the challenges facing women in accessing education and healthcare services, citing cultural barriers, insecurity, teenage pregnancies and early marriages as major concerns.
According to him, there is a need for stronger collaboration among government agencies, development partners and community leaders to address these challenges and ensure women have access to quality education and healthcare.
He expressed optimism that the continued partnership between the Bauchi State Government, UNICEF and other stakeholders would help tackle these issues and promote greater empowerment for women across the state.
In her remarks, the Chief of the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Rafique Nuzhat, emphasised that the protection of women's rights and access to justice should be treated as a daily responsibility rather than a once-a-year celebration.
She pointed out that Bauchi State still faces serious challenges such as high maternal and child mortality, malnutrition and teenage pregnancies, noting that these issues represent significant violations of women’s rights.
Dr. Nuzhat said UNICEF is working closely with the Bauchi State Government to establish support mechanisms, including a sexual abuse referral centre, aimed at addressing gender-based violence and improving access to justice for victims.
She added that the overall goal of the collaboration is to empower women to make informed decisions about their health, their lives and their future.
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