The media have been described as a major catalyst to the development of children in Nigeria
Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Field Office Kano, Mr. Rahama R.M. Farah, stated this during a media dialogue on girls education funded by FCDO, implemented by UNICEF, in collaboration with Kano state Qur’anic and islamiyya schools management board (KSQISMB), held in Kano.
According to him, the media plays a very important role as a critical ally in helping UNICEF fulfil this mandate.
He explained that, as the UN agency for children, UNICEF collaborates with the government, partners and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to help children survive, thrive and attain their full potentials.
Mr Rahama maintained that research indicates that, in Nigeria there are 18.5 million out of school children, with 60 per cent of these children being girls.
“Girls education is particularly important because as is often stated, when you educate a girl, you educate a nation”
He pointed out that, the girls education project 3 (GEP3), 300 SBMC members were trained,while schools developed School emergency preparedness and response plans to mitigate the impact of potential and actual threats on schools.
Presenting a paper titled ‘why educating girls is important’ education specialist, UNICEF country officer Abuja, Azuka Menkiti explained that, girls education especially at secondary school level has greatly reduced the number of child and maternal mortality rates.
She identified poverty, poor infrastructure, cultural norms and practices as some of the barriers to girl child education.
“Girls education goes beyond getting girls to school but ensuring that they complete each level of education”
Also speaking, the education manager, UNICEF field office, Kano, Micheal Banda said, GEP 3 project sites include Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara, Bauch, and Kano states.
“GEP 3 contributed to enrollment and learning in Kano,Bauchi,Zamfara,Katsina
Sokoto, Niger”
In his remarks, the assistant director for monitoring, and evaluation, UNICEF focal person Kano state Qur’anic and islamiyya schools management board (KSQISMB), Malam Kamaludeen Abdulhadi, reaffirmed the state governments readiness to partner with relevant stakeholders in the government’s standard of education.
He charged participants to make judicious use of knowledge gained.
The three day workshop tagged ‘Media Dialogue on girls education’ attracted media practitioner to brainstorm and proffer lasting solutions to problems bedeviling girls’ education in Nigeria.
Abdullahi Jalaluddeen
