The Coalition of Girls under Malala Fund have called on the Federal Government and other key stakeholders to take necessary actions at ensuring Sustainable learning, more investment on Education and implementation of safe school declaration for the Nigerian child.
The girls who were forty in number and between the ages of 18 and 23, made the call in Abuja, at the end of a three day capacity workshop, aimed at enhancing girls Advocacy capacity on socio cultural issues, affecting girls in the country.
Presenting the declaration on safer schools for girls, one of the girls Miss Omojola Tamilore, said “We believe that educating a girl child prepares her to face the reality of her society and empowers her to contribute positively to nation development”
“Although Nigeria is a signatory to several regional and international human rights instruments that affirm the right to Education, yet there is no constitutional guarantee for citizens to access safe, free and compulsory basic education up to senior secondary level, we therefore demand that Federal Government take proactive steps in ensuring that all girls are safe while going to school, as well as ensure that teenage marriage is eliminated”
The Vice President, Prof Yemi Oshinbajo, represented by the Director General National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP Dr Fatima Waziri, agreed that though the COVID-19 had caused a structural inequality across board, gave an assurance that the Federal Government remains committed at ensuring that every Nigerian child access quality education.
She said “A total of 6.2 million boys and girls enjoyed Government empowerment program, of which 1.2million were women, similarly close to 38 billion had been disbursed so far in the past four years for the program, 94 thousand artisans benefited, out of which 40 thousand were women. All these were targeted at advancing the cause of women in the country. “
The Country representative of Malala Fund, and Organiser of the programme, Ms Crystal Ikanih-Musa, who said the theme of the workshop was ‘’Advocating for Safer Schools for Girls’’, featured crash courses in creative writing, storytelling, media campaign, social influencing, school safety and other skills aimed at championing the girl child’s rights in the country.
Julian Osamoto