Seven Local Governments in Nasarawa State have been selected to participate in the first phase of the AGILE scholarship programme for the girl child education programme.
This was disclosed by Nasarawa State Project Coordinator, Hajiya Aishatu Aliyu Isoga second day sensitization programme critical stakeholders in the implementation of the AGILE girls scholarship from the Nasarawa South Senatorial District of the state.
She disclosed that the meeting is to create awareness and have gain the understanding of parents, caregivers, community and religious people as well as the process to benefit from the the scholarship scheme which is being introduced by the Word Bank to support the girl child project as well address the challenge of adolescent girl-child education in the State.
Those attending the programme are school administrators and Principals, zonal education Secretaries, religious leaders, community leaders.
She reiterated the need for all to come together to see that the implementation of the girls scholarship programme, GDP, is a success in Nasarawa.
The State Project Coordinator who was represented by her Deputy, Mrs Juliana Patrick, urged participants to listen attentively to the guest speakers as according to her their presentation is very critical to the successful implementation of the scholarship programme. .
She said however that the scholarship will be scaled up in the second phase to cover all LGs and that the present implementayion covers the poorest of the poor Local Governments in the State.
The Local Government that have been selected to benefit in the first phase are Wamba, Awe, Lafia, Kokona Doma, Nasarawa and Keana.
“As we discuss the strategies, policies and frameworks that will guide the implementation of the Girls Scholarship Programme, I encourage everyone here to actively participate. Your insights and contributions are invaluable in shaping the future of this programme. Let us work together to ensure that no girl is left out.” Hajiya Isoga concluded.
One of the Guest Speakers, Mr Ubini Andrew highlighted extensively all that it would require for the girl child to benefit or access the schollarship, the role of the caregiver or parents, emphasizing that a parent or caregiver is entitled to surety on one child but that where it becomes absolutely necessary, it could be allowed two maximum.
Also speaking, Hajiya Ramatu Umar, one of the Guest Speakers outlined those factors that are responsible for the girl child droping out of school which include socio- cultural, factors, poverty, insecurity, lack of gender friendly school environment and parental attitude among several others
Mrs Umar reiterated the need for stakeholders to emphasis the need to promote girl-child education in the various places or communities.
The participants were drawn from schools in the Southern Senatorial District; principals, head teachers, Education Secretaries, ANCOPS, ASSUS, Local Government officials, religious leaders, Community Leaders and Parents.
Krestnews.com reports that the sensitization is to be continued in the headquarters of Nasarawa North and Nasarawa West Senatorial Districts of the State.