By Ahmad Umar
A Non-Governmental Organisation in Gombe State , North-East Region, High Level Women Advocates, has identified discrimination and inequity as some of the factors affecting the education, socio-economic and progress of girl child and women in Nigeria.
The State Acting Chairperson of the organization, Mrs. Saratu Ali Inusa stated this at a news briefing in Gombe on Tuesday to commemorate  the International Day of Girl Child.
She said that the NGO had striven to sensitise, create awareness and advocate  possible solutions to these challenges in order to close the gaps of inequalities and equities in the society.
“We embark on high level advocacy meeting with policy makers to address the issues affecting women and girls.
 “The causes of backwardness of girl child in science education which were cultural and religious factors were also detected. It was also discovered that parents tend to encourage their boys to choose science subject at their senior level and girls are advised to choose commercial effect of gender” she said.
The Chairperson Said that girls face all forms of discrimination that inhibit their development, especially access to quality education, health care services, economic opportunities, skills and knowledge for life and livelihoods.
She also spoke of the effect of early marriage on the academic performance of the girl-child and that the NGO would recommend appropriate measure to be taken in order to enhance their welfare in terms of education and thus empower them to become relevant and potential citizens of the contemporary Nigeria.
“Saratu Inusa disclosed that an investigation had already  been conducted solely with the purpose of finding out the attitude of the general public on early marriage of girl-child, the effect of government as per discouraging the practice, the effect of the practice on the nation’s political and economic terrains”.
