The Participatory Communication for Gender Development Initiative (PAGED) has urged media practitioners in Kano state to lend their support in the advocacy for girls education for the development of the society .
The Program Director and Founder of the Non-profit group, Ummi Bukar made the call during a one day media summit organized for Journalists and Civil Societie organizations to address the barriers to girls education in Kano State.
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She said the Initiative would address gaps by advocating to the media, government, agencies and stakeholders and ensure girls who have obtained education become ambassadors of the campaign.
According to her, PAGED initiative has launched a campaign on access for Girl Child education with particular focus on rural communities.
Ummi explained that the situation of girls’ education in Kano is very interesting,saying that the state has a large number of educated girls while percentage of them from the rural communities faces lots of challenges.
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PAGED initiative said although much has been achieved within the urban area of the state, more needs to be done for large number of girls living around outskirts of the city.
“Some of them don’t have access to education and a few who does drop out so earlier due to so many reasons. A situation I describe as a paradox”.
The program director lamented that the situation often leave these girls with hawking as an option which exposes them to unimaginable number of dangers
“want to see every relevant stakeholder get involved in this are efforts for every girl especially in the rural communities attain some level of formal education”
The coordinator Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All ( CSACEFA) Dr. Auwalu Halilu, pointed out that the summit was promoted after a research carried out over a year ago on the wide gap recorded between girls in the city and rural communities in terms of education.
He noted that, the media no doubt has a great role to play in the advocacy leveraging on the power of Journalists,expressing optimism that the campaign will achieve its set out objectives with such mechanisms.
Dr. Auwal urged parents to contribute their quota by enrolling,retaining and ensuring their children complete their education to move the nation forward.
The coordinator reiterated CSACEFAs’ determination in collaborating with relevant stakeholders to move education to global standard.