By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto
The aim was to address violence against women and children.
The Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE)has organized a sensitization gathering to promote girl child education at the community level.
The campaign was held simultaneously in four local government areas—Bodinga, Binji, Sokoto South, and Gwadabawa.
Flagging off the campaign in Gagi area of Sokoto South Local Government, the State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof. Ahmad Ladan Ala, who was represented by the Director Administration, Abubakar Umar Salame, emphasized the importance of education for girls.
He stated that the sensitization effort was Train the Trainers (ToT) workshop earlier organized by AGILE in collaboration with the Ministry for Basic and Secondary Education.
Speaking at the event, Alhaji Sani Umaru Jabbi, District Head of Gagi, warned against cultural practices that violate girls’ rights to education and stressed that no cultural belief should hinder girls from accessing education, as seeking knowledge is a fundamental obligation in Islam for both men and women.
“We must ensure that girl children receive education and protect them from harmful traditional practices such as early and forced marriages, as well as street hawking,” he said.
Similarly, at the Bodinga sensitization event, Bawa Sani Turakin Bodinga underscored the need to raise awareness about various forms of violence against women and children. He called on community members to take responsibility for preventing domestic violence and rape stressing that unchecked violence could devastate lives and communities.
“The fight against violence starts at the grassroots level. Every community must work together to protect the rights of women and children,” he said.
A key highlight of the event was presentation by Aminu Balarabe Kilgori, a lecturer at Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, and a facilitator at the Bodinga session.
Kilgori urged parents and guardians to abandon harmful social norms that hinder girls’ education, noting that some people undervalue female education, prioritizing boys’ schooling instead.
“Education is a right for all children, regardless of gender. AGILE aims to change perceptions and ensure that girls have equal opportunities to learn and succeed,” he stated.
He also pointed out that women’s inclusion in professions like medicine is essential, as people often prefer to receive care from doctors of the same gender. Encouraging more girls to pursue education, he said, would lead to greater female representation in critical fields such as healthcare.
By challenging harmful traditions and advocating for girl child education, the Sokoto AGILE initiative is paving the way for a brighter future for young girls in the region.
