School children
By EDDY OCHIGBO, Kaduna-
Worried by the plight of the girl child in the country, concerned citizens in Kaduna state, have called on the state government, policy makers, groups and public-spirited individuals to place high premium on girl’-child education, as the world marks the 10th anniversary of the International Day of the Girl-Child, today, Tuesday October 11, 2022.
Award-winning environmentalist, championing the campaign for the betterment of the girl-child in the state, Ms Gloria Kasang Bulus, told NATIONAL ACCORD in exclusive interview that the 10th anniversary of the International Day of the Girl-Child calls for genuine commitment of the authorities and influencers to invest in the girl-child, particularly in the area of education.
“This year’s International Day of the Girl Child, with the theme: “Our Time is Now – Our rights, our Future’ is significant and that is why there is growing need to encourage girls, because at moment, investments in their rights remain limited as they continue to face many challenges in fulfilling their potentials in life, exacerbated by the crises of climate change, COVID-19 and humanitarian conflict”.
“Girls around the world continue to face unprecedented challenges to their education, their physical and mental wellness, and the protections needed for a life without violence. Girls with disabilities face additional barriers to accessing support and services”,She said.
Ms Bulus pointed out that the world’s 600 million adolescent girls have shown time and time again that if given the right skills and the opportunities, they have the capacity to make the world a better place for all.
She maintained that:”By investing in them and giving them the much needed support, leadership skills and attention, the world would be better-off. We have a duty to build the capacity of the girl-child to participate in governance, advocacy, policy design and implementation, through education and empowerment.
“More than 50% of girls in Nigeria are out of school, while majority of them regrettably lack access to affordable functional education. Worse still, there is a significant vulnerable girls who are victims of abuse, child labor among other social vices”.
She explained that for any meaningful progress to be made, government and policy-makers must initiate a deliberate policy of responding to the plight of the girl-child, by providing an enduring learning environment for the desired societal change citizens are clamoring for.
On his part, State Partnership Facilitator, PERL, Mr Istifanus Akau, enjoined the media, government officials, stakeholders and influencers to be role models and be the face of the awareness campaign about addressing the factors and barriers militating against the girl-child in the state.
He said: “Girls are ready and waiting for another decade of progressive acceleration. It is time for us all to stand accountable – with and for girls – and to invest in a future that believes in their agency, leadership and potential.
“We call on the media and other strategic partners to utilize available opportunities and platforms to contribute to the conversations as we mark the 10th International Day for the Girl Child”, Akau remarked.
Meanwhile, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has called on key stakeholders for action – from October 2022 to October 2023 – for greater investment on the girl-child – to among other things:
- Support the leadership of adolescent girls at the forefront of change efforts, including hearing their voices, responding to their tasks and nurturing spaces for their inclusion in decision-making;
- Increase resources for investments in adolescent girls for networks and organizations that support quality and inclusive education; and
- Improve access to and uptake of inclusive adolescent girl-centered services at all times, especially in responding to crisis and recovery.
