The Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS in collaboration with the Confederation of Traditional Stock Breeders Organizations in Africa CORET has organized a capacity-building workshop focused on integrated school feeding models in Kaduna State.
Declaring the workshop open at Ladugga, in Kachia Local Government Area, the Programme Coordinator of CORET, Dr. Abdu Umar Ardo, said the training was part of a broader effort to support school feeding programs in selected nomadic communities.
The initiative, which is being implemented in partnership with the Swiss Cooperation, targets nomadic schools in Ladugga, Kaduna State and Maigatari communities in Jigawa State while CORET is the lead implementing partner in both states.
The Programme Coordinator of CORET, Dr. Abdu Umar Ardo said the workshop aims to strengthen the capacity of School-Based Management Committees, Mothers’ Associations, and PTA to support girl-child education and reduce the number of out-of-school children in nomadic settlements.
Represented by CORET’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Alhaji Bimbi Adamu Tahir, Dr Ardo urged participants to actively apply the knowledge gained and to contribute meaningfully to the educational development of their communities.
Also speaking at the event, the President of the Reube Fulbe Development Rights Initiative, Hajiya Halima Yoman, emphasized the importance of incorporating Mothers’ Associations into SBMCs.
She noted that this would help tackle the persistent challenge of low enrollment of girls in nomadic schools, adding that “educating a woman is equivalent to educating a whole nation.”
In her remarks, a representative of the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Hajiya Hauwa’u Muhammad, provided deeper insights into the role and structure of SBMCs, highlighting their importance in enhancing education delivery at the grassroots level.
“SBMCs serve as a link between the school and the community, encouraging active involvement of parents, community leaders, and local organizations in school affairs”.
“Supporting Girl-Child and Inclusive Education, they advocate for increased enrollment and retention of girls and vulnerable children by addressing cultural and social barriers”.
“Monitoring School Performance SBMCs help oversee the academic performance of students and teachers, ensuring accountability and quality education delivery”.
Some of the participants who spoke to Radio Nigeria Kaduna expressed appreciation for the training, describing it as timely and impactful.
They assured the development partners of their commitment to putting the lessons learned into practice to improve school attendance and management in their communities.
The workshop focuses on three key nomadic communities within the Kachia Grazing Reserve: Wuro Nyako, Mbela Biradam, and Tiggirde.
COV: Adamu Yusuf
