HCD+ Education Experts in Nasarawa State Seeks Better Ways To Combat Out Of School Children And Improve Girl Child Education.

Education

By Michael Umudjon

Education Stakeholders in Africa has called on Nigerian Governments at all levels and individuals to prioritize Girl Child and Out of School Children Education as well augment study curriculums.

This was made known on Tuesday 20th August, 2024 by Madam Finda Koroma, CEO of Africa Human Capital Development Plus (HCD+) represented by Madam Margaret Omanibe, Head Finance and Administration for Africa HCD+ at a one day inception meeting on the Human Capital Development Pulse Project: Towards Developing An Integrated Education And Skills Advocacy Strategy, which took place in Lafia the Nasarawa state capital, in partnership with the Emir of Laffia, Nasarawa State Government, and States HCD Agency.

According to Madam Koroma HCD+ has launched the design of an Education and Skills Development Advocacy
Strategy covering Nasarawa, Kano, Kaduna, and Lagos as part of the preparation for the High-Level Event on Girl Child Education and Out of School Children, further adding that “Gender disparities persist in access to education, with girls facing unique challenges,
such as early marriage, household responsibilities, and cultural biases in favour of the
boys.

“The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey of 2021 suggests that the percentage of
women (20-24 years) married before age 15 years in Nigeria has been 12.3%, with higher rates in Northeast (22.7%) and Northwest (23.2%). Ensuring girls’ access to education is
crucial not only for their individual empowerment but for broader socioeconomic
development.
Our research indicates that the states of Nasarawa, Kano, and Kaduna are among the first 16 states in incidences of out-of-school children in Nigeria, intensified by Almajiri,
with the girl child most disadvantaged”

CP Musa Isah Baba, Ubangari Lafia who represented Lafia Emir HRH Alhaji Justice Sidi Bage Muhammed (rtd) appreciated HCD+, thereby reitating the Emirates commitment to Girl Child Education and Out of School Children mostly the Almajiris.

On her part, Nasarawa State Director General of HCD Hajiya Hibiba Balarabe who represented the Deputy Governor who also doubles as States HCD Chairman said the Government is always ready to implement HCD+ programmes, just as it has always done with the $30,000 grant given to the state to combat out of school children, Girl Child Education among others.

“The issue of Out of School Children is a ticking time bomb that needs to be dissolved as soon as possible”. She added.

On her part, Busayo Raymond Ayinde from Lagos and a staff with Federal Ministry of education basic department said the meeting was apt and always timely to sharpen key stakeholders knowledge on the need to pay attention on how to tackle out school children , vocational training and Girl Child Education.

The one day HCD+ workshop drew participants from Federal and States Education sectors, Royal Fathers , Lagos, Kano, Kaduna and Nasarawa state among others