In an effort to advance western Education on Girls, the Kano State Government in North West Nigeria, has engaged Imams on the development of key messages that will promotes Adolescent Girls Education in the state.
The Imams were brought together At a workshop held at Bayero University Kano, Organized by Kano State Ministry of Education under the Adolescent Girls Initiatives for Learning and Empowerment AGILE project in collaboration with Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA).
In a message to the Imams, the Commissioner of Education Haruna Doguwa represented by the Director Planning Yusha’u Hamza reiterated that, AGILE project has been well embraced by the Kano state Government in ensuring that, hundreds of out of school children return to classes.
To achieve better results Doguwa said, Imams play critical roles in drawing the attention of parents in their various sermons.
Doguwa explained that, girl child education and education for all are priorities of Kano state Government as more resources have been injected into the sector to achieve success.
“Kano is having the highest number of out of school children and for us to bridge the gap we need to engage the Imams to develop key messages in their sermons so that girl child Education can be given much priority it deserves.”
He called on the Imams to inject more energy and time in bringing out messages of encouragement to support girl child Education in accordance with the Islamic injunctions.
The Kano state Coordinator Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA) Dr. Auwalu Halilu said AGILE is collaborating with Islamic scholars in getting the right direction to improve girl child Education in Kano state.
“The essence of this gathering is to bring the Imams together and rob mines on the issue of Education. The discussions was to look into girl child Education including the barriers.”
“The Imams have even said that, education of the girl child is even mandatory in Islam.”
Dr. Halilu expressed optimism of greater enrollment, retention and completion of girl child Education in Kano state.
The AGILE Components Lead and Social Norms Halima Tukur informed the Imams of the progress made in the pProject in Kano in addressing out-of-school and girls’ education.
She said through AGILE, many secondary schools have been constructed with many computers provided and other learning Materials.
She explained that a conditional cash transfer has been initiated for students, with over 70,000 captured and currently benefiting from the gesture.
Some Imams who spoke said girl child Education is mandatory in Islam, urging the Government to sustain partnerships with Islamic clerics on Education.
They also stressed the need for Islamiyah schools to be integrated into the mainstream formal sector.