Hussaini Ibrahim 
ADAMAWA, Nigeria- As part of the Global Partnership for Education Accelerated Funding (GPE-AF) project, no fewer than 2,250 adolescent girls across three local government areas of Adamawa State, Gombi, Lamurde, and Madagali—have received menstrual hygiene kits.
The exercise, which formed part of end-of-year activities, was supervised by government officials, UNICEF representatives, and journalists.
Speaking on Sunday in Yola, the Commissioner for Education and Human Services, Garba Umar Pella, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Hajiya Aisha Muhammad Umar, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to sustaining the Accelerated Basic Education Programme (ABEP).
He praised UNICEF and other partners for supporting out-of-school children to re-enroll through both formal and non-formal education channels.
Pella assured that Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri’s administration is determined to keep education a top priority, noting that 123 learning centres established under the project will continue operations.
He added that other components such as Sangaya and Early Childhood Education (ECE) would be strengthened, with budgetary provisions already set to accommodate the program.
Presenting results of the project, Godwin Kure Lucky, the state’s UNICEF focal person, disclosed that while 7,200 learners were initially targeted, the programme successfully reached 12,000 children in the three pilot councils.
He highlighted that 48 schools benefitted, with support from traditional and religious leaders helping boost enrolment through back-to-school campaigns.
Lucky, however, identified challenges such as delayed community-level cash disbursements, weak monitoring structures, and flooding, stressing the need for stronger ownership strategies and better supply chain planning.
Also speaking, Dr. Abdulrahman Ado, Education Specialist at UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, explained that the GPE-AF project, which runs until September 2025 across Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe, is designed to expand safe, inclusive, and crisis-responsive education.
He urged the state government to ensure continuity beyond the project’s timeframe for the benefit of vulnerable children.
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Chukwu Obinna 
Koko Maxwella 
Otamere Gladness