By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto
The three-day Media Dialogue on Girl’s Education organized by Bauchi SUBEB in collaboration with UNICEF for Sokoto and Zamfara states based media was conducted at Sokoto Guest Inn.
The media dialogue is part of activities of the Girl’s Education Project 3 (GEP3) funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development (FCDC) of the UK and implemted by UNICEF.
Declaring the ceremony opened, the Sokoto state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education Dr. Muhammad Bello Gwiwa said it is very important to say that UNICEF’s contributions to girls education through funding from Foreign Commonwealth Development Office since inception in 2012 is quite commendable as it greatly assist in the provision of quality education and increase in access, retention and transition especially for girls.
Furthermore, Gwiwa said from inception to date there is increase in pupil’s enrollment especially girls as well as promoting girl friendly learning environments and promoting planning and decision making processes which support evidence based scale up of intervention among other things executed by the agencies.
Delivering goodwill message, the Chief UNICEF Field Officer, Dr. Maryam Darwish Said explained that the second extention is a targeted intervention of the GEP3 programmer, that specifically focuses on junior and senior secondary schools level.
She said the aims of this extension are to consolidate the gains of the GEP3 program me and as well provide technical assistance to states to strengthen targeted capacity in data management, planning and assessment enabling them to continue to implement key GEP3 activities.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the acting Permanent Secretary ministry for Basic and Secondary Education represented by Director Planning of the Ministry, honored the organizers for considering and celecting the girl child education important especially in this part of the country where female gender are far left behind.
In his closing remarks, the Chairman Sokoto SUBEB, Altine Shehu Kajiji said the three-day workshop on girl child education was very important considering the fact that female gender are far left behind especially in the northern part of the country.
He said enrollment and completion of girl child education has been a major problem but with regular publicity and intervention of UNICEF , things are changing and wished for its sustenance.
