Due to the exposure of the ills in the society by the COVID-19 pandemic in the North-east, emirate councils, Ministries, Departments and Agencies have been engaged to accelerate the education of the girl-child, especially those living in marginalised communities in Adamawa State.
The Chief Executive Officer of Connected Development, Hamza Lawal, disclosed this during a courtesy call to various MDA’s and emirate councils in the state.
He explained that out-of-school girls in Fufore and Yola South local governments of the state would be empowered with an accelerated, qualitative and sound education in order to make them self-reliant and also able to contribute their quota to nation building with support from the Malala Fund.
“I believe that when we work hand in hand with government to gain trust, we can be rest assured that schools are safe and the girl-child can go to school so that there will be a halt in early girl marriage and Gender-based violence (GBV),” he added.
The Commissioner for Education, Mrs Walbina Jackson, reiterates that the girl-child was more exposed to dangers in terms of a pandemic, and crises and therefore sought more attention on them, adding that the current administration of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri was willing to build a school next to any girl-child’s home if distance was the yardstick that made her a victim of Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) when reported.
The Sarkin Matasa of Adamawa, Wakili Boya, said the state was among the worst hit by insurgency, and appreciated Connected Development’s efforts for bringing the campaign to encourage parents to allow the girl-child to benefit from free and qualitative education in the state.
In his remarks, the Executive Director of Adamawa State Universal Basic Education Board (ADSUBEB), Dr. Salihi Ateequ, said the girl child was a special being that all attention, efforts and resources must be given to.
He applauded the efforts of Connected Development in its three years engagements in the state.
