The Adolescent Girls Initiative Learning for Empowerment, AGILE, project in Nasarawa State has carried out yet another campaign to sensitise and create awareness among critical stakeholders in Northern Senatorial District of the state on the implementation of the Girls Scholarship programme, a sub-component of AGILE Conditional Cash Transfer, of the girl child education drive.
The campaign which took place at Amanda Garden Hall Akwanga being the zonal headquarters of the Nasarawa North Senatorial District drew participants from the education sector, parents, education officers, community and religion leaders, youth groups, school administrators, students as well as women groups from Wamba, Akwanga and Nasarawa Eggon.
Krestnews com reports that the Akwanga awareness and sensitization campaign was the second in the series of zonal campaigns, was preceded by the first in Lafia which is the zonal headquarters of Nasarawa South Senatorial District on Tuesday, October 8, and drew participants from the Local Governments that make up the zone namely Awe, Obi, Keana, Doma and Lafia.
Addressing the participants, the AGILE Project Coordinator, Nasarawa State, Hajiya Aishatu Aliyu Isoga described the attendee as heroes/heroines and champions of the girl child education campaign drive, saying the success of the adolescent girl scholarship depends on their commitment to the implementation Process which is why the awareness and sensitization campaign.
She said AGILE supported by the World Bank and Nasarawa State Government is determined to ensure that no girl child of school age is left out in the street but all returned to school and supported to acquire education or skills through the various programnes being implemented by AGILE.
She further disclosed that the scholarship programme is aimed at ensuring that no girl is left out because of schools fees or such other challenges that borders on fund and urged stakeholders to rise up and ensure the success of the scholarship programme.
She commended those in attendance for their courage and willingness to stand up for the girl child education, appealing to them to ensure that the messages they will recieve from the various guest speakers resonates with the people that are outside the hall, particularly the girl child and their parents.
Hajiya Isoga used the opportunity to thank the state government and the World Bank for making the bold statement on the challenge posed by the girl child education and promised that AGILE in Nasarawa under her watch would do everything humanly possibly to see that the negative narrative about the adolescent girl child is reversed.
One of the Guest Speakers, Mrs Ramatu Umar, an educationist with the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board, while presenting her paper title “Challenges Affecting The Girl Child Education in Nasarawa State, identified several factors such as lack of school fees; Insecurity; Socio Cultural factors leading to early marriage of the girl child; Poor provision of separate toilet facilities, Class rooms and lack of provision of school hygiene pads.
Mrs Ramatu Umar… Resource Person
She expressed happiness that the World Bank and Nasarawa State Government are already intervening by addressing most of the challenges enumerated and enjoined parents to return their adolescent girl child who may have dropped out to school now that scholarship is being provided.
Mr Ubini Andrew… Resouce Person
In a separate paper, Mr Ubini Andrew, a World Bank financial consultant, addressed the issue of legibility of beneficiaries outline several criteria some of which he said include the girl child must first an adolescent and should be in primary 5 and going to JSS one or JSS 3 going to SS 1.
Secondly that the girl must be from the poorest of the poor family registered in the social register in the community and is likely to drop out or has dropped out of school already but willing to continue and that the adolescent girl child’s care giver should be the mother or a trusted female guardian
He called on School administrators to help in identifying such indigent pupils and students so as to benefit from the scholarship programme and boost the enrolment and retention in school and called on community leaders, religion leaders and other critical stakeholders to help out in this driven
Mr Ubini equally announced that beside the provision of scholarship, the World bank is determined to address some of the challenges facing education and development generally and is ready to address the challenge of infra structure deficit and provision of learning materials and furniture.
Mr Andrew urge school principals and head teachers to leverage on this opportunity to address some of the challenges facing their institutions.
Mr Aruwa Iko Angba Chief Education Officer, Akwanga
Good will messages were received from CEOs, Principals, E.S, Youth Groups and Women Groups,where they all commend the World Bank, Nasarawa State Government for the attention to address the challenge facing the girl child education and pledged their total support; assuring to ensure that the scholarship programme is a success in their various spheres of influence.
Onah Mercy Munachimjo
Speaking in an interview two students Onah Mercy Munachimjo and Edurance Felix, Akwanga North Secondary school and Endurance Felix, Akwanga South Secondary School both commended the World Bank and the State Government for the scholarship programme, saying it will help in addressing the indigent girl child education needs
Endurance Felix
They called on parents to prioritise the girl child education by ensuring that just as the boy child the girl child should be given the opportunity to school as well. They say the scholarship scheme will change the narrative about the girl child education by boosting enrolment and retention in school.
Krestnews.com reports that the zonal sensitization and awareness campaign will be rounded up on Thursday, October 10 at Keffi, Nasarawa West Senatorial District and participants expected to come from the local governments that make up the district.