Women account for two-thirds of the world's illiterate adults, and girls account for two-thirds of the world's children without access to education. Research shows that better female education is correlated with lower rates of poverty and improved health. Leveraging the advantages of educating the girl child, the Community Awareness Advocacy for the Establishment of the Girl Child's Right to Early Education in Imo State, organized by the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC) in partnership with the Imo State Government, my office, and 10 Miles Resources Limited, continued on its third day.
With representatives from the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, the Ministry of Education, Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB), and Imo State Universal Basic Education Board (IMSUBEB) as critical stakeholders, the girl child right advocacy engagement continued to address the need to bring the girl child back to school.
Dr. Edeh John Onimisi, the NMEC Director of Literacy and Development, pointed out the challenges the girl child faces on her path towards formal education. These include teenage pregnancy, social acceptance of child marriage even when girls are not physically or mentally ready, violence, discrimination, and harassment. He acknowledged that girls have the potential to bring socioeconomic changes when educated.
In the interactive session, Mrs. Dame Augustina Azubuike, the Executive Secretary of SEMB, applauded the initiative of the community advocacy and maintained that Imo State is a model state in terms of girls' enrollment in schools. She noted that the state government has policies in place favouring the girl child's education, including the free education policy and ensuring that all girls' schools in the state are fenced for security. She, however, called for synergy among stakeholders to ensure that the girl child will not be lacking in life skills such as communication, problem solving, critical thinking, and reflection.
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H.E. Chief Barr. (Mrs.) Chioma Uzodimma First Lady, Imo State and Founder, GoodHope Flourish Foundation and Secretary of Renewed Hope Initiative.
