Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) has made history as the first tertiary institution in Nigeria to train and certify over 40 staff members in Gender Responsive Pedagogy (GRP), a groundbreaking initiative under its Girls’ Education and Skills Partnership (GESP) programme.
Facilitated by the United Kingdom-based International Network for Advancing Science and Policy (INASP), the training was part of a collaborative effort sponsored by UNICEF Generation Unlimited and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The three-day train-the-trainer workshop equipped participants with skills to challenge gender biases, foster equal participation, and create inclusive learning environments where students, regardless of gender, can reach their full potential.
Dr. Funmilayo Doherty, the Project Coordinator of GESP at YABATECH, emphasized the significance of this milestone, noting that the participants were the first cohort of GRP trainers in Nigeria’s tertiary education system. “They will be playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of education and will be the driving force in expanding GRP knowledge,” she stated.
Declaring the workshop open, YABATECH Rector, Dr. Engr. Ibraheem Abdul, commended the INASP team for partnering with the institution’s GESP initiative. He highlighted the importance of innovation in education, urging participants to fully embrace GRP despite the challenges that may come with it.
“Gender-responsive pedagogy is an innovative concept that holds great potential for the future. Everyone must embrace this forward-thinking approach to foster an inclusive and balanced educational environment,” Dr. Abdul declared. He further encouraged the trainees to become advocates for innovation, stating that the world eagerly awaits the impact of their expertise.
Mai Hoff Skovgaard, Senior Programme Specialist in gender responsiveness programming and pedagogy at INASP UK, expressed her excitement about the reception of GRP training in Nigeria. She noted that participants had gained confidence in understanding GRP and its transformative potential in education.
“They have acquired knowledge on eliminating stereotypes from curricula, inclusive teaching and assessment techniques, and action planning for institutional change to integrate GRP principles into teaching practices and policies,” Skovgaard said.
Other facilitators from INASP UK included Professor Flora Fabian, founding Vice Chancellor of Mwanza University, Tanzania, and Dr. Albert Lauswata, Senior Lecturer and Chair of the Centre for Ethics at Uganda Martyrs University.
With this pioneering step, YABATECH is positioning itself as a leader in gender-responsive education, setting the stage for broader adoption of GRP across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
