School girls in Bauchi State have called on the government to invest more on girl’s education for a better future for themselves, their families and the society.
Ms Hauwawu Jafar, Mace Holder at the Nigeria students parliament in Bauchi, made the appeal during a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) organised by the State of the Nigeria Girls Summit (SONGs) on Thursday in Bauchi.
She said investing in girls’ education transforms communities, adding that girls who receive education earn higher incomes, participate in the decisions that most affect them.
“Girls’ education strengthens economies and reduces inequality. It contributes to more stable, resilient societies that give all individuals the opportunity to fulfill their potential.
“Education for girls is about more than access to school. It’s also about girls feeling safe in classrooms and supported in the subjects and careers they choose to pursue
“When we invest in girls’ secondary education the lifetime earnings of girls increase,” she said.
Jafar noted that many girls aren’t at school today; they are shut out of education because of discrimination, poverty, emergencies and culture.
“They are treated as second-class. They are exploited, abused and simply disregarded in many of our societies,” she said.
Jafar appeal to governmment and stakeholders to support gender-equitablems to reductions in school-related gender-based violence and harmful practices, including child marriage and female genital mutilation.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the girls summit is themed: “Our time is now, our right, our future”.
Hajiya Halima Dimis, the Coordinator of the State of the Nigeria Girl Summit in Bauchi Camp, said the school girls were brought from different schools for the FGD for their voices to be heard.
“The FGD is built up on the international day of girl child in the state.
“They are from primary, junior and senior secondary schools as well as special students of disable schools.
“They discuss things that affect them such as participation, protection and development,” Dimis said.
Also speaking, Hajiya Zainab Musa, the Deputy Director, Child Development, state Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development, explained that the summit was in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to commemorate the forthcoming international day of girl-child.
She explained that the summit would enable the school girls to explore their potentials and also voice out their challenges especially in schools.
NAN
