The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed says education is cardinal to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals SDGs in the next seven years.
Amina Mohammed stated this when she led UN delegation and other partners on a courtesy visit to Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum.
The UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed informed Governor Babagana Zulum that the purpose of her visit was to discuss better ways of improving financing and policies of the girl child education.
According to Hajiya Amina, Borno is where the global Peace ambassador Malala Yusuf Zai launched her campaign for the right, safety and education of the girl child.
The Deputy Secretary-General stressed the need to support and give hope to young girls so as to contribute to the development of the society.
“I speak with your government on policies, on the financing, on possibilities and potentials, on the leadership Borno has had in laying the course for education in children in this nation, particularly in the context for which you have been able to rebuild the state from crises to potentials and possibilities and prosperity” the UN Deputy Secretary-General said.
Also, the Founder of Malala Foundation, Malala Yusuf Zai said this was her third visit to the State, describing the girl child in Borno as dedicated, determined and optimistic about their future.
She expressed concern over the safety, security and lack of investment in girl education as she marks 10th anniversary of her UN speech.
According to her, despite the challenges bedeviling education in the county, there have been remarkable progress in areas of access, policies and programmes in the sector.
Borno state Governor Babagana Zulum appreciated United Nations and Malala Foundation for the support, noting that the Foundation has rehabilitated 27 classrooms, provided scholarships to over seven hundred girls in four local government areas including Chibok girls.
He remarked that the State Government had enrolled 500,000 girls into public schools in the last four years.
Governor Zulum assured to partner with Malala Foundation to enrol more girl child into schools and provide them with opportunity to realise their potentials.
Radio Nigeria reports that the UN Deputy Secretary General is accompanied by the founder of Malala Foundation, Malala Yusuf Zai, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Matthias Schmale.
COV/Dauda Iliya
