Promotion of Female Participation in Technical Education in Katsina State

This study examined strategies for promoting female participation in technical education in Katsina State, North West Nigeria. Female enrolment in technical and vocational education remains disproportionately low in northern Nigerian states, reflecting deep-rooted gender norms, early marriage patterns, and institutional barriers. Using a descriptive survey design, data were collected from 200 female students, 80 teachers, and 40 school principals across 20 schools in four local government areas. Instruments included a structured questionnaire and focus group discussions with female students and community leaders. Findings revealed that family disapproval, fear of social stigmatization, and lack of female role models in technical fields were the most frequently cited barriers. Schools with dedicated female workshops, female technical teachers, and active girl-friendly policies recorded higher female enrolment. The study recommends that the Katsina State Government implement a girls-in-technical-education bursary scheme, actively recruit female technical teachers, and engage Islamic scholars and community leaders in sensitization campaigns. Single-sex technical sessions should be piloted in culturally conservative areas. These findings contribute to the evidence base for gender-responsive TVET strategies in northwest Nigeria, with relevance to broader national conversations about women's economic empowerment. Keywords: female participation, technical education, Katsina State, gender, North West Nigeria.