Musa Na Allah, Sokoto
A transformative alliance between the Sokoto State Government, UNICEF, and local communities is rewriting the story of adolescent girls across six local government areas (LGAs) as the REACH programme draws to a close.
This bold initiative Reaching and Empowering Adolescent Girls in North West Nigeria (REACH) has left behind more than just success stories; it has cultivated a lasting movement of empowerment and possibility.
Launched two years ago, REACH was designed to uplift the most vulnerable girls in society.
It targeted those who had never enrolled in school, those who dropped out early, and those struggling to remain in the classroom.
However, what truly distinguished the programme was its core strategy: deep-rooted community participation and ownership.
“REACH was not just an education program.
“It was about building trust within communities,” said Ngozi Izuora Songu, UNICEF Nigeria’s Adolescent Development Specialist, during a field visit to Bodinga.
“We worked hand in hand with leaders, parents, and the girls themselves to identify challenges and together create solutions.”
Implemented in partnership with the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), REACH combined access to formal education with life skills, vocational training, and mentorship.
This comprehensive approach ensured that girls were not only returning to school but thriving in every area of their development.
In Bodinga and other participating LGAs, local leaders were instrumental to the programme’s success.
They mobilized support, championed enrolment efforts, and even provided spaces for training.
Religious leaders, women’s groups, and youth associations also joined forces to spread a powerful message: when girls are educated, everyone benefits.
The impact of this collaboration is visible in the lives of families like that of Murjanatu Ibrahim.
Her daughters learned tailoring and pastry-making through REACH. “Our community was skeptical at first,” she admitted.
“But now, we’ve seen what the girls are capable of. They’ve become focused, productive, and respected.”
The programme empowered girls like Zinatu Kabir Ahmed, 15, who re enrolled in school and began baking to support her family.
And Asmau Bala, a young mother who once dropped out, regained her literacy and now uses her newly acquired skills to generate income. “It was more than just school,” Asmau said. “I feel supported, and ready for life.”
Younger girls who stayed in school were taught leadership, confidence, and purpose. Saudat Babangida, 15, now aspires to become a soldier.
“This programme gave me a voice,” she declared proudly. “I know I can serve and protect others.”
The REACH initiative wasn’t limited to academic success it reshaped mindsets.
Girls who were once silent and sidelined have become leaders, entrepreneurs, and change makers in their communities, challenging traditional norms with the support of the very communities they belong to.
With the formal end of the programme, the question arises: what next?
The answer lies in the strong institutional and community linkages REACH built.
Teachers, mentors, and even programme alumni have vowed to continue advocating for girls’ education and inclusion, ensuring the legacy lives on.
Sokoto State’s approach has become a blueprint for what meaningful, inclusive partnerships can achieve.
By aligning the efforts of government, international agencies, and grassroots actors, the state has made a compelling case for community led development that disrupts cycles of poverty and exclusion.
The legacy of REACH goes far beyond statistics. It is measured in the confidence of a teenage girl who dreams of becoming a soldier, in the resilience of a mother who found her voice, and in the collective belief that when girls rise, communities rise with them.
Sokoto has not just empowered girls it has built a culture of hope.
