?Urges World Bank to extend AGILE project to 36 states, FCT

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Education (Basic and Secondary), Senator Lawal Adamu Usman has charged religious and traditional leaders in the country to champion the adequate education and empowerment of the girl-child in their respective communities.

Senator Usman also appealed to the World Bank to expand its Adolescents Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project to cover the entire 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the interest of the girl-child all over Nigeria.

He further disclosed that his committee has been working assiduously on the amendment of the Basic Education (Amendment) Bill now at the third reading stage before the Senate as well as the Bill for an Act to amend the Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act, Cap N4 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2024 and for other Related Matters 2024, which is being sponsored by himself and has passed the second reading stage, which he stressed, "When finally passed into law, will revolutionise and revitalise basic education, including, of course, girl-child education in Nigeria."

The lawmaker, popularly called Senator LA by his teeming supporters in his Kaduna Central Senatorial District constituency, stated these on Tuesday in Abuja in his Goodwill Message to the National Conference on Girl-Child Education and Empowerment with Traditional and Religious Leaders in Nigeria with the theme: "Effective Partnerships on Girls Education, Out of School Children Education for National Development."

He emphasised that without the support of the religious and traditional leaders in the country, the level of education the girl-child could attain in life "will remain a mirage."

According to the Senate Committee Chairman on Education (Basic and Secondary), religious and traditional leaders throughout the country have crucial roles to play in raising the standard of the education of the girl-child as well as empowering them.

He stated that the religious and traditional leaders could assist the process of girl-child education and empowerment by creating a supportive atmosphere for her to be adequately educated and through this, they could also challenge gender inequality plaguing our various communities.

Senator Usman stressed the importance and essence of girl-child education and empowerment for the development of the Nigerian society, adding that the process would help the girl-child to achieve her full potential needed to enable her to contribute meaningfully to her community and the country.

He noted that girl-child education and empowerment equip girls with the skills and knowledge required to succeed in whichever areas of life they may find themselves in future.

He said: "Our religious and traditional leaders can help in the creation of a supportive environment for the girl-child to effectively learn and thrive. They are in the best position to assist in effectively challenging gender inequality and eliminate barriers to education.

"Our religious and traditional leaders have the natural capabilities to influence families, communities and decision-makers so much so that they can assist in effecting change in attitudes and social norms.

"Therefore, as religious and traditional leaders, they can use their influence to encourage the girl-child to complete her secondary education before considering marriage. They can also take active part in the design and implementation of various programmes to support the girl-child to attain an enviable lifestyle. They can collaborate with other stakeholders to address gender-based barriers.

"Furthermore, our religious and traditional leaders have the intrinsic capacity to employ culturally sensitive approaches to enhance gender outcomes. By making it compulsory for the girl-child to, at least, complete her secondary education before marriage, our religious and traditional leaders can provide a conducive and supportive atmosphere for the girl-child to thrive and flourish."

The Senate Committee Chairman, therefore, challenged religious and traditional leaders attending the National Conference and their counterparts all over Nigeria to resolve to embark on changing the mindsets of their followers and subjects regarding the importance of girl-child education and empowerment, adding, "They can help our society to unlock the challenges and eliminate barriers to the education of the girl-child."

He lamented that out of the 7.6million out-of-school children estimated by UNESCO to be in Nigeria, 3.9million of them who are girls are at the primary and junior secondary levels, saying, "Infact, more than 50% of girls in our country are not attending school at the basic education level. Regrettably, about one million girls drop out between the first and last year of primary school, and 0.6 million between primary 6 and JSS1.

"Girls are said to account for 38% of Nigeria's out-of-school children. Their education is being hindered by major barriers such as child marriage, poverty and gender discrimination. All these prevent the girl-child from learning and completing her education."

Senator Usman further stated that significant progress could only be made in the education and empowerment of the girl-child through partnership, coordination, identifying and working closely with key community stakeholders like the religious and traditional leaders across the country, who he said must be deeply involved in the entire process.

He noted that they could play crucial roles in reshaping attitudes, social and cultural norms as well as exert a lot of influence on community behaviour "with the objective of promoting the girl-child's access to quality education and retention in school."

The lawmaker added, "It's a known fact that our religious and traditional leaders engage and influence families, communities, lawmakers and decision-makers in our society. They also have the powers and influence to put in check certain traditions and norms that aid gender inequality; just as they also possess the power and influence to assist in unlocking the challenges and eliminating hurdles to girl-child and women's education through the involvement of other major decision-makers.

"Therefore, our religious and traditional leaders can, like their counterparts in some other African climes, become champions of girl-child's right to education. They can determine to prevent child marriages in their respective domains by demonstrating serious commitment to girls and women's education and empowerment.

"They can collaborate with parents, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), teachers and other stakeholders to save the girl-child from early marriage and assist them to go back to school. As custodians of our traditions, cultures and values, our religious and traditional leaders have the responsibility of determining what is good for their respective societies, including children, especially the opportunity to get them educated and empowered."

The National Conference hosted by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who delivered the Keynote Address on the occasion, was also attended by the sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa?ad Abubakar III; Emir of Argungu, Samaila Muhammad Mera; Oba Tajudeen Jimoh from Ekiti State, religious leaders and other stakeholders from across the country.

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