BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto –
At least 13,000 women and girls have graduated from the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative Second Chance Education programme being implemented by the Grassroots Entrepreneurship Skills Acquisition Initiative (GESA) in Sokoto State.
The National Coordinator of GESA, Cynthia Obazee, said the Second Chance Education is a catalytic tool to help curb Gender Based Violence (GBV), empower the vulnerable with skills and education.
Mrs. Obazee, who noted that GESA was contracted by UNESCO under the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative in 2019 to implement the Second Chance Education in Sokoto, noted that the journey has been that of challenges and huge successes.
She said GESA commenced the 1st phase of Second Chance Education implementation with 2 local governments of Sokoto North and Binji, between 2019 to 2021, adding that they began with 19000 beneficiaries out of which 9310 successfully graduated.
The National Coordinator said the 2nd phase of Second Chance Education began in June 2022 where 2710 beneficiaries were enrolled from across the 6 Spotlight Initiative implementing local government areas in Sokoto.
‘”These local government areas include, Denge Shuni, Sokoto North, Sokoto South, Binji, Tangaza and Bodinga. We are happy that 2600 out of the 2710 beneficiaries that enrolled are graduating and collecting their certificates today.
“”All the graduands were taught basic literacy, numeracy, sexual reproductive health and rights life skills, digital literacy, livelihood skills, entrepreneurship as well as Formal Education and Life long learning, amongst others”, she said
She, further, attributed part of the success stories of the GESA Second Chance Education to good collaboration with Sokoto State Agency for Mass Education and the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs.
Mrs. Obazee said the graduands of the programme are now empowered with skills and education that will give them voices, to know their rights, seek justice for themselves and others undergoing GBV in their respective communities.
Speaking earlier, in his opening remark, Dr Stephen Onyekwelu, from UNESCO Spotlight Initiative commended GESA for achieving the enviable feat of impacting lives positively.
On their parts, Sokoto State Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Women and Children Affairs, Barrister Aisha Dantsoho and the Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Dr Mamuda Galadima as well as that of the Agency for Mass Education, urged beneficiaries of the Second Chance Education to make good use of the knowledge and skills learnt.
They also applauded EU-UN Spotlight Initiative, UNESCO and GESA for making such huge impact in the lives of the people of the State.
Responding to the programme, some of the graduands, Bilkisu Abdullahi, Amina Musa, Sa’adatu Muhammed and Nasmatu Aliyu, who spoke on behalf of others, expressed gratitude to EU-UN Spotlight Initiative, UNESCO and GESA for the empowerment, just as they promise to be good ambassadors against GBV in their respective communities.
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