News Investigators/ Gov. Umaru Bago of Niger has made a strong case for investment in girl child education and recognising its transformative power for individuals and society.
He said this during the traditional and religious leaders conference on the significance of girls education in the North central geo-political zone and Ekiti state in Minna on Tuesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference was organised by the Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with Niger Ministry for Basic and Secondary Education, and the Adolescent Girls Initiative Learning and Empowerment (AGILE).
Bago unveiled a comprehensive 10-year programme aimed at empowering the girl-child through education and skill acquisition in the state.
He said the initiative aligned with AGILE project seeking to provide 1,000 female students with global scholarships to pursue courses in medicine, nursing, midwifery, and technology over the next decade.
“The programme aimed to make education accessible and simple, leveraging technology to facilitate learning.
“10,000 female students will benefit from the initiative, becoming doctors, nurses, midwives, technologists, and more,” he said.
He disclosed that one million computers and tablets would be deployed to schools, enabling students to own devices from kindergarten to tertiary levels and every school in the state would receive free internet services for online learning.
He disclosed that 4,000 youths, including 3,000 females, have been trained in hydroponic greenhouses and green irrigation.
In her welcome address, Hadiza Mohammed, Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education in Niger, said the conference aimed to address challenges such as low literacy rates, gender inequality, and limited access to quality education in the region.
She urged traditional and religious leaders to inspire parents and communities to prioritise girls’ education by sharing experiences which are part of effective strategies for increased enrollment, retention, and completion rates.
In his remarks, Morufu Alausa, Minister of Education, emphasised the vital role traditional and religious leaders play in promoting education in their communities.
Mr Alausa, represented by Alhaji Sirajo Dardawu, Director of Federal Government College, Minna, said traditional and religious leaders create awareness, promote education, mobilise resources, and inspire young people to pursue knowledge.
The Minister acknowledged gaps and challenges confronting girls’ education, including child labour which exposed them to hazards, in spite of the free education initiatives.
Mr Alausa urged critical stakeholders to collaborate, while traditional leaders should key into the AGILE project, focusing on improving education opportunities for girls to reduce out-of-school children in the country.
In their separate remarks, Rev. Yohanna Bulus, Chairmen of the Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Alhaji Dalhatu Makama, Jamatul Nasril Islam in Niger, emphasised the importance of community unity in ensuring every girl have access to quality education.
The National Coordinator of AGILE, Amina Haruna, said the project was a World Bank-assisted programme aimed at improving secondary education opportunities for adolescent girls aged 10-20.
NAN reports that the conference was attended by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Niger state Traditional Council, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar among others.
NAN