In a significant move to boost girl-child education in Nigeria, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) is set to launch the Girl Child Education Volunteers’ Advocates (GICEVA) initiative.
The landmark program will be unveiled at the upcoming International Conference on Girl Child Education, scheduled for October 10-11, 2024, at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The GICEVA initiative aims to mobilise volunteers through the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Community Development Service (CDS) Groups.
The volunteers will play a crucial role in promoting girl-child enrollment across local governments throughout Nigeria.
In a statement, Head of the Education Department at the NGF, Dr. Ebenezer Leo, emphasised the importance of the initiative, saying: “GICEVA represents a grassroots approach to addressing the challenges of girl child education.
“By engaging youth corps members, we aim to create a widespread network of advocates who can drive change at the community level.”
The two-day conference, themed “Girl Child Empowerment Through Quality Education,” will serve as a platform to officially launch GICEVA.
The event will also feature the unveiling of the Face of the Girl Child Ambassadors, a program that celebrates academic excellence among female graduates and empowers them to become advocates for girls’ education in their respective states.
Key aspects of the GICEVA initiative include: Volunteer Mobilization: Engaging NYSC members and CDS Groups to promote girl child education.
Others include Advocacy Training: Equipping volunteers with essential skills to effectively champion the cause.
Community Outreach: Focusing on increasing girl child enrollment in local governments across Nigeria.
Collaboration with Stakeholders: Working alongside education commissioners, development partners, and donor agencies to create a comprehensive approach to girl child education.
The NGF’s conference will also see state Commissioners of Education signing a Declaration, affirming their commitment to support and fund girl child education up to the Senior Secondary School level.
The declaration, developed in collaboration with global organisations dedicated to promoting girls’ education, signifies a united front in addressing educational disparities.
“Through GICEVA and our other initiatives, we’re not just talking about change – we’re actively creating it,” Dr. Leo stated.
“We believe that by empowering volunteers and creating a network of advocates, we can significantly increase girl child enrollment and retention in schools across Nigeria.”
