Zamfara women express readiness to defend girl child education
Zamfara State Women have expressed readiness to challenge both social and Cultural barriers hindering girl child education in the area.
The women made their decision known in Tudun Wada Primary School, Tsakwa in Talata Mafarawa Local Government Area of the State,during the assessment of Girls for Girls Education Program by journalists, non governmental organisations and officials of UNICEF.
Speaking under the auspices of Mother’s Association, the women lauded the Girls for Girls, G4G UNICEF education intervention program,saying their girls are now fully persuaded about education.
The Spokesperson of the association in Tudun wada primary school, Amira Abubakar said educating a girl child is in the interest of the society.
“We have seen the impact of the G4G program in the lives of our daughters ,the girls are more persuaded to get themselves educated, they also want to stay in school and grow” she said .
Another Speaker,Aminat Abdullahi said mothers who are members of the mother’s association of female pupils in zamfara state have vowed to confront all challenges hindering their daughters from staying in school.
Mrs Abdullahi stated that they have all agreed to protect their girls from molestation from male teachers.
She added that the Girls now have confidence to discuss certain challenges affecting their being retained in school.
“We are enjoying what we don’t have in the past years,we go from house to house to encourage children who are not in school to join our daughters in school, we are very happy our daughters are being taught how to keep them selves clean and they now have more training” Mrs Abdullahi said.
“Our children now have morals ,they come home to replicate what they are taught in G4G gatherings” she added.
The Women leader also revealed that the Girls for Girls education intervention program has helped improve personal hygiene of the girls ,adding that they now take care of themselves better.
Mrs Abdullahi called on the State government to give support and empowerment to women across the state so as to support their daughters education.
She also urged the government to support the UNICEF G4G education intervention program by recruiting more female teachers in the model primary schools.
In Gurbi Model Primary School also in Talata Mafarawa ,Mrs Asabe Abubakar hinted that G4G has also empowered mothers in adult education.
Mrs Abubakar disclosed that the program has attracted a lot of children to school.
“our neighbouring village does not have a primary school and all the children in the village both male and female now attend this Gurbi model school and G4G is attracting them to stay more in school because the program help them to discuss the problems they facing at hone or in school that may be hindering or have potential of terminating their dreams and careers” Abubakar said
Speaking on the Association, UNICEF Education Expert,Azuka Menkiti, said UNICEF established Mother’s Association in 18 Local government areas of Zamfara, katsina and Bauchi states where the G4G program exist.
“this is done with the aim of reaching out to other mother’s whose daughters are not yet enrolled in schools, G4G has also trained 600girls in life and vocational skills”
A major implementor of Girls for Girls UNICEF initiative in Zamfara State and an Executive Director of Life helpers organisation,(a non-governmental agency)Tayo Fatinikun said the mothers association of girls in Talata Mafarawa schools are ready to push the bar following the key roles they play in ensuring that their daughters remain in school.
According to Fatinikun, “they simply want their daughters to be better than who they are ,we can see that mothers who are part of the G4G education strategies are very well involved in the education of their children”
“For the girls ,we see vision encrafted in their hearts” he added.
The Mother’s Association is part of strategies used by UNICEF to create more awareness for the girl child education among women and the society as a whole.
The Girls for Girls G4G , education program launched by UNICEF in August 2017 in Zamfara ,Katsina and Bauchi States was sponsored by the UKAID.
In Pix One are Pupils of Tudun Wada Primary School in Talata Mafarawa L.G.A of Zamfara State. All enrolled in G4G education intervention program
