Shaping Policy Through Gender-Responsive Education and Governance Reforms in Nigeria
At the 2025 Gender and Inclusion Summit convened by the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC), stakeholders from across government, civil society, and the private sector gathered to explore innovative approaches to advancing gender equality in Nigeria. Among the key contributions was a session anchored by GIZ through the SKYE II Programme, titled “Catalysing Change: Best Practices for Gender-Responsive Education and Governance.”
Today, the insights and outcomes from this session are captured in the Purple Book (4th Edition), a flagship publication documenting evidence-based policy recommendations and practical reform pathways. The session findings are featured on page 81, contributing to a broader national dialogue on inclusive development.
Understanding the Challenge: Structural Barriers to Inclusion
The session highlighted that gender inequality in Nigeria is not incidental, it is deeply embedded in institutional systems, policy design, and social norms.
Across sectors such as technical and vocational education and training (TVET), governance, and labour markets, systems have historically operated within male-dominated structures, limiting women’s participation and leadership opportunities.
Gender-blind governance frameworks, fragmented institutional coordination, and weak data systems further constrain effective planning and accountability. These gaps have contributed to persistent inequalities in access to skills, employment, and decision-making spaces for women and girls.
The session therefore emphasized the need for coordinated gender mainstreaming, evidence-based planning, and multi-sector partnerships to create sustainable and inclusive systems.
From Dialogue to Action: Key Policy Recommendations
The session produced a set of actionable policy recommendations aimed at transforming both education and governance systems:
- Legislate gender-responsive planning and budgeting frameworks: Institutionalising inclusive planning processes across federal and state levels will ensure that gender priorities are systematically integrated into policies, budgets, and monitoring systems.
Institutionalise mandatory gender and disability inclusion training for teachers: Embedding inclusive pedagogy in teacher education will strengthen educators’ capacity to deliver gender-sensitive instruction and promote equitable learning outcomes.
Links to the E- learning modules:
1: https://learn.accinigeria.com/courses/profile-based-pathway-c-the-environment-enabler/
2: https://learn.accinigeria.com/courses/profile-based-pathway-b-the-role-model/
3: https://learn.accinigeria.com/courses/pathway-a-the-motivated-teacher/
- Strengthen Gender-Based Violence (GBV) data governance frameworks: Expanding data systems to include intersectional insights, improving stakeholder capacity, and investing in infrastructure will enhance evidence-based policymaking and coordination.
- Adopt a national definition for women-owned or women-led businesses: Establishing a standard definition (≥51% ownership and operational control) will enable credible and transparent affirmative procurement processes.
Programmatic Pathways for Sustainable Impact
Beyond policy reforms, the session also identified critical programmatic actions to drive long-term change:
- Expanding career advocacy for women in non-traditional sectors, particularly in technical fields
- Institutionalising gender-inclusive teacher training systems across all levels of education
- Strengthening and scaling national GBV data systems and stakeholder capacity
These recommendations reflect a broader call to bridge the gap between policy commitments and implementation, ensuring that reforms translate into tangible outcomes for women and girls.
Evidence of Progress: What Is Already Working
The Purple Book also highlights emerging success stories that demonstrate the impact of coordinated interventions:
- Gender-responsive reforms in TVET institutions, such as those led by Lagos State TVET Board, are improving inclusion through targeted planning and capacity building.
- Awareness campaigns supported by GIZ have expanded knowledge of over 190 gender-neutral career pathways in sectors like construction, increasing both participation and employer confidence.
- The National GBV Data Dashboard has significantly improved visibility and coordination, with tens of thousands of cases recorded and tracked.
- Nationwide e-learning platforms are making gender and inclusion training more accessible across institutions.
These examples demonstrate that systemic change is possible when policy, capacity development, and partnerships align.
A Shared Vision for Inclusive Development
The urgency of these reforms was echoed by Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, who noted:
“Gender is not a peripheral issue; it is a core, cross-cutting priority. Advancing it requires more than programmes, it must be supported by sustainable policies and robust institutional frameworks.”
Her remarks reinforce a central message from the summit: lasting gender equality requires structural transformation, not isolated interventions.
Looking Ahead
The recommendations outlined in the Purple Book underscore the importance of expanding access to skills development, strengthening inclusive governance systems, and addressing structural barriers that limit women’s full participation, especially in traditionally male-dominated sectors.
Through the SKYE II Programme, GIZ continues to support Nigeria in advancing gender-responsive reforms that are practical, scalable, and rooted in evidence.
By shaping policies, strengthening institutions, and fostering partnerships, these efforts are contributing to a future where every woman and girl has equal access to opportunities, resources, and decision-making spaces.
Read more: The full recommendations from this session are available in the Purple Book (4th Edition) by the Policy Innovation Centre (see page 81).
Author: Sherifat Yunusa, Technical Advisor, GIZ Nigeria & ECOWAS