Miss Karima Idris, Coordinator, Save the Children International (SCI), an NGO, has advocated the importance of girl-child education as a tool for growth and economic development in Yobe state.
In her message to commemorate the International Day of Girl Child on Monday in Damaturu, Idris said that the United Nations annually celebrates International Day of the Girl Child on October 11 to promote girls’ rights and highlight gender inequalities all over the world.
Idris said that the theme for year 2021 celebration is, “Digital Generation ,Our Generation” is apt and good enough for all children to key into for the development of their intellectual properties which will contribute to the development of the nation.
She said that over the years, the world had witnessed remarkable progress in advocacy for gender equality, especially for the female folks with positive results and Yobe should be associated with such a development.
“SCI wants more girls to be in school compared to years ago when a decline in girl child education was recorded. Education will take a higher number of women to key positions in business and public service.
“There are large inequalities in some parts of the country with women and girls steadily being denied the same rights as men and boys.
“Sexual exploitation, disproportionate share of unpaid care and domestic work, and discrimination from public office is still a huge barriers that women and girls face,” she said.
She said that many children, especially girls, are not in school based on boy-child preference syndrome in the state and that the girl child is being forced to marry as children.
“Education will enslave the girl child to modern actions and offer the girl child great opportunity to contribute her quote to development of the state,” she said.
She appealed to the government to increase the budget line for educating children, especially girls, in order to retain and encourage other girl children to be in school.
She called on parents to realize the importance of girl-child education and the development inherent in their being education and see girl child education as a huge legacy.
Also, Hajiya Fati Jajere, Director, Child Development, Yobe State Ministry of Women Affairs, said that the government knows the importance of girl child in the development of the state.
Jajere said that the ministry, out of passion for girl child education in the state, has focused on awareness creation on how to handle the challenges faced daily by a girl child in her day-to-day activities.
She attributed most challenges faced by girl child as a result of lack of education and decided to enshrine the culture of going to school by every girl child in the state.
“This is why the ministry of Women Affairs, Yobe, dedicated time and resources to creating awareness of the importance of girl child education across all the local government areas in the state,” Jajere said.
She commended the state Governor, Mai Mala Buni, for his commitment in the development of the education sector of the state and passion for the girl child enrollment in school. (NAN)
