ActionAid Nigeria has called on government and all stakeholders to give priority to girl-child education, to enable them reach their full potentials.
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Mr Laban Onisimus, Education Coordinator, ActionAid Nigeria, made this call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the sidelines of an event to mark the International Day of the Girl-Child in Abuja on Thursday.
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NAN reports that the organisation took this year’s celebration to Government Secondary School, Gaube, in Kuje Area Council.

“We call on government at all levels to do more concerning the education of the girl-child. ‎
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“There is a need for government to do more on the issue of girl-child education and give priority to them if they are to become successful professionals in future.”
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He said the theme for this year’s celebration, “With Her: A Skilled GirlForce”, is unique because it would provide the girl-child with the tools needed to determine her career path.
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Onisimus added that the girl-child must be sensitised early in life, on their potentials as girls and what the future holds for them.

“Many girls are inspired by professionals and that is why in Actionaid, we deemed it fit to come with a team of professionals to talk to girls about their future.

“As a way to encourage her to develop skills and let her know some gender barriers she might face and how to overcome them.
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“They also need to know that their profession does not stop in the kitchen just because they are girls but that she has a bright future and as a girl she can also achieve her dreams. ”

Some of the students who spoke to NAN at the end of the talk thanked the organisation for coming to educate and an encourage them.

Aliyu Fatimah, an SSS 2 student who wants to be journalist, said she learnt that with hard work and determination, she would be professional in future. ‎
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‎ Bilkisu Jubril, an SS 3 student, said she wants government to help fund education especially for the girl-child.
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Jibril said that the girl-child should be given the opportunity to decide their career path and encouraged government to address issues of violence against the girl-child.

‎Mrs Stella Ebubedike, a Guidance Counselor in the school, thanked the organisation for coming to celebrate the day with the girls.

Ebubedike said that the students had learnt from the wealth of knowledge of all the professionals.
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NAN reports that the International Day of the Girl-Child is celebrated annually on Oct. 11, to ‎ raise awareness ‎ on issues facing girls internationally, surrounding education, nutrition, child marriage, legal and medical rights‎. (NAN)

– Oct. 11, 2018 @ 16:35 GMT |