Writing By Aminu Dalhatu; Editing By Yusuf Zubairu
Save the Children International in partnership with Goal Prime Organisation Nigeria, has announced plans to enroll over 137,000 out-of-school children in Zamfara State under the Education Cannot Wait (ECW) First Emergency Response Project.
The Project Manager, Mrs Altine Lewi stated this during the Technical Working Group (TWG) inaugural meeting of the project held in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.
Mrs. Altine Lewi explained that the ECW First Emergency Response Project aims to provide equitable access to quality education for vulnerable children and adolescents in crisis-affected areas of Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna states.
According to her, the project will be implemented in Bungudu and Anka Local Government Areas of Zamfara State, targeting 137,450 vulnerable children, most of whom are currently out of school.
“It is a project funded by our donor, Education Cannot Wait, with the aim of supporting children in crisis-prone areas whether the crisis stems from insurgency, banditry, or climate change,”
“We are working to ensure that all children are not only to have access to education, but education is delivered in a safe and conducive environment”
“With the funding received, we are supporting children by re-enrolling them in schools, providing educational materials, and equipping schools with learning kits to improve the quality of learning.”
Mrs. Lewi further noted that, the project would address the urgent educational needs of children in the northwest where insecurity has significantly disrupted learning.
She emphasized that, the initiative also focuses on improving educational outcomes through strategic interventions.
“By the end of this project, we hope that, all targeted children, will have benefited from educational support. In addition, the project will also focus on child protection. We are working with communities to establish protection committees to ensure children’s safety both at home and in school.”
Also speaking at the event, Mrs Adaku Ajiboye, Education Specialist at Goal Prime Organisation Nigeria said that the organisation partner with Save the Children to implement the project.
“We are implementing the ECW First Emergency Response Project in Anka (Zamfara) and Musawa (Katsina), and there are plans to extend to another location in Zamfara due to our current inability to reach the target number of beneficiaries in Anka,”
Mrs. Ajiboye described the initiative as timely and vital, especially for the people of Zamfara.
“We aim to provide both educational and support services to out-of-school children, including children with disabilities, adolescent boys and girls. We are also setting up alternative learning centers for children who lack access to formal education,” she added.
“We hope that, after participating in alternative learning programs, these children can transition back into formal schooling. We are also engaging community volunteer teachers to deliver these lessons, focusing on foundational skills such as literacy and numeracy.”
She expressed gratitude to the project donor, Education Cannot Wait, and partner organizations for making the initiative possible.
In a remark, Zamfara State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Malam Wadato Madawaki represented by the Director Admin Aminu Umar commended Save the Children and Goal Prime for the initiative aimed at supporting Children education in the state.
He also acknowledged the giant the stride of the Save the Children for it commitment over the years in Zamfara particularly in designing various programmes to enhance the wellbeing of children in the state.
Malam Wadawaki reaffirmed the state government determination to provide it support in all the areas of need for the benefit of the entire children in Zamfara State.
Earlier, the SBMC representative from Anka Local government, Malam Salihu Abubukar stressed the need for the project Manager to ensure full educational support to out of school children affected by insurgency activities.
The Deputy Coordinator AGILE Project in Zamfara State, Dr Salihu among other stakeholders have attended the inaugural meeting.
Similarly, a Technical Working Group TWC has also been inaugurated to guide the implementation of the project. The TWG comprises key stakeholders including journalists, who are expected to provide oversight, technical direction, and promote stakeholder collaboration.
Aminu Dalhatu
