In a significant move to address the challenges of girls’ education in Northwest Nigeria, traditional and religious leaders gathered today at the Yar’Adua Hall in Kaduna for a one-day conference focused on improving adolescent girls’ education access and completion rates in the region.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, who attended as the special guest of honour, strongly advocated for girls’ education, emphasizing that it aligns with Islamic teachings.
He cautioned religious leaders against delivering misleading sermons that discourage girl-child education, stating that the Holy Quran encourages girl child education and emphasized that society stands to benefit when all its citizens are educated.
Deputy Governor Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, representing Governor Senator Uba Sani, revealed alarming statistics from the World Bank showing that Nigeria has one of the highest out-of-school populations globally, with 12-15 million school-age children currently not receiving education.
The situation has been further complicated by security challenges in the North-West region, with an estimated one million children directly impacted by insecurity in 2020-2021 alone.
Dr. Balarabe highlighted the significant role of the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) program, supported by the World Bank.
The program, which initially covered seven states with a $500 million credit incentive, has recently expanded to include eleven more states with an additional $700 million approved in September 2023.
This expansion aims to reach more out-of-school girls, including married girls and those living with disabilities.
“Education and skills are transformative tools essential for closing gender gaps, especially in economic and political empowerment, and for achieving Nigeria’s full potential,” stated Dr. Balarabe.
She emphasized that with women comprising more than 49% of Nigeria’s population, their educational needs cannot be ignored.
The conference brought together emirs and royal chiefs from northwestern states, religious leaders from both Muslim and Christian communities, educationists, academics, and government officials.
The gathering focused on addressing various challenges facing girls’ education, including gender-based violence, poverty, and cultural practices that act as barriers to educational access.
The Deputy Governor called on traditional and religious leaders to use their influential positions in communities to advocate for girl-child education and help remove cultural and economic barriers.
The conference marks a crucial step in the region’s commitment to ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to receive quality education and reach her full potential.
