The Bauchi state government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has celebrated the 2026 International Women’s Day, highlighting the significance of women’s access to quality education and healthcare services in nation-building.
Speaking at the event, Dr Rilwanu Muhammad, executive chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board, emphasised the importance of recognising women’s rights and empowerment.
“The United Nations has set aside today and tomorrow every year to recognise the place of women and ensure they have the right to life, employment, and justice,” he said.
Dr Muhammad outlined various initiatives undertaken by the Bauchi state government to promote women’s empowerment, including the approval of six months’ maternity leave for pregnant mothers, the provision of flexible hours for breastfeeding, and others.
He, however, noted that the maternity leave policy is yet to be ratified by the state assembly.
The event also highlighted the challenges faced by women in accessing education and healthcare services, including cultural and security issues, teenage pregnancies, and early marriages.
Dr Muhammad emphasised the need for stakeholders to work together to address these challenges and ensure that women have access to quality education and healthcare services.
Dr Muhammad expressed optimism that the collaboration with UNICEF and other stakeholders would help address the challenges faced by women in the state and promote their empowerment.
Also speaking, the chief of the Bauchi Field Office of the UNICEF, Dr Rafique Nuzhat, emphasised that women’s rights and access to justice should be a daily commitment, not just a yearly celebration.
She highlighted key issues in Bauchi, including high maternal mortality, child mortality, malnutrition, and teenage pregnancies, which she noted are all violations of women’s rights.
UNICEF is working with the state government to establish support mechanisms, like a sexual abuse reference centre, to address gender-based violence and ensure access to justice.
According to Dr Nuzhat, the goal is to empower women to make decisions about their health, lives, and futures.
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