Retired Justice Sidi Bage-Mohammed, Emir of Lafia, has partnered with Adolescent Girls Initiative for Leadership and Empowerment (AGILE) to improve school enrolment of female children in the state.
The Emir made the disclosure while playing host to the Nasarawa State team of AGILE, led by Hajiya Aishatu Aliyu-Isoga, on Tuesday in Lafia.
He explained that the presentation by the leader of the team has demonstrated a perfect example of the significance of girl-child education.
‘I was impressed listining to you because you have master the subject matter and had proven to be highly competent for the assigned responsibility.
“Your selection for this assignment was the right choice and anybody listining to you will be encourage to support the course,” he added.
Bage-Mohammed said he was worried seeing female children of school going age hawking during the period they were supposed to be learning in school.
The Emir who is the chairman of the state traditional council, said he would support any efforts geared towards protecting the rights of children especially the girl-child.
He expressed his willingness to provide the AGILE team with the necessary support to ensure that all girls on the streets in the state returned to classrooms.
He therefore assured that the District Heads, Village Heads, Ward Heads as well as other structure of the traditional institution would support them to succeed in their assignment.
Earlier, Hajiya Aishatu Aliyu-Isoga, Nasarawa State Project Coordinator (PC) of AGILE appreciated the royal father for the reception.
Aliyu-Isoga noted that the visit was to establish a bond so that the they would identify areas of collaboration with the traditional institution being closies to the people.
“We need your support to address the gender gaps observed in education outcomes and acquisition of skills in the state.
“The project will provide girls with opportunities to enroll in and complete formal schooling as well as second chance education programme.
“We will build 30 secondary schools across the state, renovate others and provide gender sensitive toilets and provide adolescent girls with sanitary pads to encourage them.
“Those covered under this project would be paid stipend of N5, 000 every term in addition to sanitary facilities in order to encourage them and make the learning environment conducive for them,” she added.
The team led added that Gov. Abdullahi Sule of the state had paid more than N150 million as counterpart funds and provided the enabling environment to ensure that success of the project.
She explained that AGILE project was an initiative of the Federal Government with support from thWorld Bank and currently implemented in 18 states.
“The project development objectives is to improve secondary education opportunities among adolescent girls in 18 states including Nasarawa State.
“It is to also address the critical binding constraints adolescent girls faced that limit their enrolment, retention and completion rates in secondary schools.
“Some of the constraints includes; lack of access to secondary schools, poor infrastructure, native social norms, low value for girl-child education and poverty among others,” she added.
She further explained that the project would use a comprehensive approach to address these constraints by using the school, family, and community platforms to empower adolescent girls. (NAN).