By Ahmad Umar
Gombe, (Nigeria)–A private Initiative, Nafada Development Forum in Nadafa local government area of Gombe State, northeast of the country has established a Senior Secondary School for girls in the community.
This is aimed at promoting girl child education in the area which hitherto had only one in the entire senatorial district.
The Chairman Gombe North Senatorial District Development Forum, Alhaji Ali Bappah El-Nafaty disclosed this while speaking at a sensitisation meeting on gender based violence, organized by Wildan Care Foundation.
He said in the Gombe North Senatorial District has only one female boarding school which have senior class.
El-Nafaty said that girl-child education is a critical issue that should not be treated with negligence, “Its impact in the society is numerous including improving the individual, causing her to be productive and not a burden to the society; improving the economy of the society through various means such as environmental sustainability; lower illiteracy rate which also leads to lower poverty rate.
“The girl-child needs to be educated to acquire knowledge and skills needed to advance her status for social interactions and self-improvement, girl child education also prepares her to face the reality in society and teaches her to be a good wife and mother
“When she is educated she realises the full potentials endowed in her, she discover to be whoever and whatever she wants to be. With education she would break the shell of ignorance and open that of self-discovery, we have vibrant and outstanding daughters like Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa and others,” he said.
El-Nafaty commended Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa for building one block with three class rooms and office as well as her son who also constructed a borehole, and Alhaji Hamidu Yagide who contributed to the establishment of the School
Similarly, he added, Nafada Youth Development Forum constructed exam hall for the school while the local government council donated three block of three class rooms with offices, adding that the present Commissioner of Information, Ahmed Umar Suleiman contributed two million naira to the school.
On her part, the Chief Executive officer, Wildan Care Foundation, Zariyatu Abubakar Hashidu pledged to assist the girl in getting admission and scholarship from international and local organisations in the country.
“Girl- child education also decreases maternal mortality. This is because women with formal education tend to have better knowledge about health care practices. Cross-country studies show that an extra year of schooling for girls reduces fertility rates by five to 10 percent later marriage.
“Among children not attending schools, there are twice as many girls as boys and among illiterate adults, there are twice as many women as men so if the girl-children are given education, it means the rate of illiteracy will be halved which can give room for more women to be able to contribute financially to their families thereby making their families more capable of securing education for their children.
“This will also empower and improve productivity in the society. It would also increase women’s involvement in the political process as educated women can participate in politics and contribute to effective governance in the society. With education, women are able to understand issues relating to women and can intelligently provide solutions to such issues.
Zariyatu noted that educated women can raise their voices to be heard especially to demand for equality and fairness on issues that concern them and their families.
“Having a voice that could be heard leads to reduction in the rate of domestic and sexual violence. Girl child education produces women that easily embrace safe sex thereby reducing the level of sexually transmitted diseases and they also have knowledge of the preventive measures to take to avoid other diseases,” She said.
