Stakeholders in Nigeria’s justice and education sectors have called for faster prosecution of perpetrators of sexual violence against schoolgirls.

They also called for stronger inter-agency coordination, and a survivor-centred approach to keeping girls in school.

A stakeholders’ dialogue, convened by The Inclusion Project, TIP, with support from Malala Fund, brought together government officials, judicial officers, law enforcement agencies, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, and education stakeholders to confront what speakers repeatedly described as a systemic crisis hiding in plain sight.
Speaking at the gathered held in Kano State, the state Attorney General of Kano State, Abdulkarim Maude, SAN, reaffirmed the Ministry of Justice’s commitment to strengthening the prosecution of SGBV cases but acknowledged that persistent obstacles, including difficulties securing witness attendance, cultural and familial pressures, and weak witness protection frameworks have continued to undermine justice delivery.
Earlier, a Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, in state Education Ministry, Hamza Yushau described sexual and gender-based violence as a theft of opportunity.

“When systems fail to respond swiftly, we are not merely delaying justice. We are ending a girl’s education,” he said, calling for a shift from siloed institutional responses to integrated, survivor-centred mechanisms, including fast-track courts for cases involving minors.

Representing the Chief Judge of Kano State, Justice Zuwaira Yusuf pointed to ongoing reforms, among them the establishment of special courts and practice directions to expedite SGBV cases as evidence of the state’s commitment.

“The responsibility to address SGBV is multisectoral,” she said, stressing that stronger institutional linkages were essential to protecting girls and advancing their educational rights.

A representative of the Emirate Council, Alhaji Bashir Wali, Walin Kano, called for sustained community education and closer cooperation between traditional institutions and formal justice systems.

The representative of the District Head of Tarauni, Alhaji Hamid Ali, stressed the responsibility of families and community leaders in confronting harmful practices and encouraging survivors to report.

Panel discussions ranged across prosecution gaps, evidence handling failures, and law enforcement constraints.

Speakers highlighted the need for prompt forensic medical examinations, technology-assisted witness statement recording, and scientific evidence-gathering to build cases that can withstand the pressures that often lead victims to withdraw testimony.

Police representatives acknowledged their mandate to act swiftly but called for stronger collaboration with schools, healthcare providers, social services, and the Ministry of Justice.

Participants called for clearer referral pathways, enhanced training for frontline actors, and greater investment in investigative tools and victim support services.