Kaduna Senator Tasks Religious, Traditional Leaders On Girl-Child Education
Senator Lawal Adamu Usman, representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, has charged religious and traditional leaders in Nigeria to take the lead in promoting girl-child education and empowerment in their respective communities.
Senator Usman made the call at the National Conference on Girl-Child Education and Empowerment, held in Abuja, where he emphasized the crucial role that religious and traditional leaders play in shaping the attitudes and social norms of their followers.
The National Conference on Girl-Child Education and Empowerment with Traditional and Religious Leaders in Nigeria had the theme, ‘Effective Partnerships on Girls Education, Out of School Children Education for National Development’.
A statement by Senator Usman, who’s Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education (Basic and Secondary), in Kaduna on Tuesday noted that despite the progress made in promoting girl-child education in Nigeria, there is still much work to be done.
He emphasised that without the support of the religious and traditional leaders in the country, the level of education the girl child could attain in life “will remain a mirage.”
According to the Senate Committee Chairman on Education (Basic and Secondary), religious and traditional leaders throughout the country have crucial roles to play in raising the standard of the education of the girl child as well as empowering them.
He stated that the religious and traditional leaders could assist the process of girl-child education and empowerment by creating a supportive atmosphere for her to be adequately educated and through this, they could also challenge gender inequality plaguing our various communities.
“Our religious and traditional leaders have a significant influence on their followers, and it is imperative that they use this influence to promote education and empowerment of the girl child,” he said.
He cited the alarming statistics of out-of-school girls in Nigeria, quoting UNESCO estimates that 3.9 million girls are not attending school at the primary and junior secondary levels.
“Girls account for 38% of Nigeria’s out-of-school children, and their education is being hindered by major barriers such as child marriage, poverty, and gender discrimination.
“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that these barriers are addressed and that every girl child in Nigeria has access to quality education,” the lawmaker said.
Usman also appealed to the World Bank to extend its Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He noted that the project has been successful in promoting girl-child education in the states where it has been implemented and that its extension to all states would have a significant impact on promoting girl-child education nationwide.
The senator further disclosed that his committee has been working on the amendment of the Basic Education (Amendment) Bill, which is currently at the third reading stage before the Senate.
He also mentioned the Bill for an Act to amend the Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act, Cap N4 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2024 and for other Related Matters 2024, which he sponsored and has passed the second reading stage.
“When finally passed into law, these bills will revolutionize and revitalize basic education, including girl-child education in Nigeria,” Senator Usman said.
The National Conference on Girl-Child Education and Empowerment was attended by prominent religious and traditional leaders, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the Emir of Argungu, Samaila Muhammad Mera, Oba Tajudeen Jimoh from Ekiti State, religious leaders and other stakeholders from across the country.
Kaduna Senator Tasks Religious, Traditional Leaders On Girl-Child Education is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
