INT’L DAY OF THE GIRL CHILD: KANO FEMALE STUDENTS CALL FOR STATE OF EMERGENCY ON INSECURITY,WASH 11-10-23
By Sadiq Aminu Female students in Kano state, called on government and relevant stake holders, to declare a state of emergency on insecurity, water sanitation and hygiene (WASH), to move girls education forward.
The call was part of the recommendations, during a panel discussion on achieving quality life for girls,as part of activities to mark the international day of the girl child child 2023 in Kano.
The students and panel discussants, Halima Usman Maiwake, Shahida Murtala, Rahina Sani Daha and Rabi’a Shanono enumerates challenges bedevelling girls such as, insecurity, poverty, inadequate toilets, lack of potable drinking water, among others.
“dilapidated classrooms, over population, lack of desks, high cost of transportation, lack of sanitary materials among others”
They appealed to government, development partners and other relevant stakeholders to come to their aid, saying that, the Intervention would go a long way in uplifting girls education to global standard.
During another panel discussion on the role of government in improving the lives and well being of girls, Kano state governor Engineer Abba Kabir Yusuf, represented by the Commissioner for education,Alhaji Umar Haruna Doguwa pointed out that, KNSG mapped out drastic and aggressive measures, to address problems bedevilling girls education.
He pointed out that, the government was committed to ensuring safety of girls in schools, provision of shuttle buses, security, and other initiatives aimed at moving girls education to the next level.
Other panelists who spoke includes the executive secretary kano state senior secondary schools management board (KSSMB), representative of the state Commissioner for women affairs, senior special assistant to the governor on girls education and representative of high level women advocates (HILWA).
In her remarks, UNICEF Nigeria country representative, Ms Christian Munduate, pointed out that, Nigeria, accounts for 15% of out-of-school children worldwide,adding that, only 9% of the poorest girls, have the chance to attend secondary school.
She highlighted that, 7.6 million girls in Nigeria, many from the northern regions, remain deprived of opportunities, saying that, Kano ranks second in the number of out-of-school girls in Nigeria, revealing a harsh disparity in the access to education.
The UNICEF Nigeria representative said Proven models like the Girls’ Education Project 3, supported generously by the people of UK and UNICEF, have assisted states including Kano in sending 1.5 million girls back to school in just two years.
“We will continue engagement with leaders, partners, and stakeholders to amplify our investment in the welfare of our girls, particularly as they face the brunt of conflicts, natural disasters, and the ever-looming threat of climate change”
The event themed: Our time is now our rights,our future: was organized by Kano state universal basic education board in collaboration with UNICEF Nigeria.