The Traditional and Religious Leaders Conference on Girls’ Education in the North East Zone rose from its Bauchi meeting with the resolution that the leaders will work with government agencies to encourage girls to continue schooling after marriage.
It was resolved that community-based organisations, in partnership with traditional and religious leaders and local governments, should establish support systems such as scholarship schemes, conditional cash transfers, and community funds to aid families in educating their daughters.
A communiqué at the end of Traditional and Religious Leaders Conference on Improving Girls Education in North East Geo-Political Zone held in Bauchi, urged state governments to fast tract budgetary release to education sector, and prioritise security in school environments by working with local security outfits to safeguard girls’ access to education in conflict-prone areas, while safe school programmes should be implemented to mitigate security risks.
Participants also resolved to promote cultural reorientation campaigns that highlight the positive role of educated women in society, as government agencies and development partners were to invest in gender-sensitive school infrastructure, such as adequate sanitation facilities to cater to the specific needs of female students.
The conference also implored Northern Governors to push their agencies to embark on regular access to the UBEC fund, observing that unaccessed funds by states are a matter of concern. It described political commitment as very needful to changing the Northern predicaments, particularly in respect of education, hence the call for all hands to be on deck.
The communiqué encourages the private sector, wealthy individuals, philanthropists, institutions and communal groups, as well as NGOs, to expand their involvement in supporting educational programmes by offering technical and financial resources to boost enrolment, retention, and completion rates among girls in the Northeast sub-region.
The communique was adopted after a motion moved by Dr Nasiru Ala, of Bauchi State House of Assembly and seconded by HRH Abubakar Umar Suleiman, the Emir of Bade, Yobe State.
Religious leaders were similarly called upon to use their platforms to mobilise communities on the values of education, especially on correcting negative pronouncements bedevilling the progress of the North generally.
Conference also wants participants to create a second chance opportunity for those who have missed their first chance in bridging the present gap of out-of-school (OOS) and school drop–outs among many children of the North Eastern states of Nigeria.
Ministries of Education in the zone are requested to strengthen policy on second chance, with a united approach to accelerate progress, ensuring that resources, policies, and community support align to create an inclusive educational environment that empowers and uplifts every girl.
States in the North East are encouraged to open doors for collaboration, accountability and resource leveraging in the collective interest of the future leaders, as members commended Bauchi State government for declaring a state of emergency on Education, noting other efforts such the Tsangaya Education and integrated education system remained result oriented and other states in the zone called to emulate the initiative.
Delegates at the conference appreciated the leadership roles of traditional and religious leaders under the able leadership of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar. The conference also appreciated Bauchi Governor Senator Bala A. Mohammed for not only hosting the conference, but personally participating in it with all his team. The state is also commended for the hospitality extended to the delegates.
The conference concluded with a renewed commitment to girl child education from all participants, delegates and organizers, acknowledging that achieving socio-economic development in Northern Nigeria in general hinges on educating the girls.
The conference recognizes the critical roles of traditional and religious leaders in reshaping societal norms, advocating for policy reforms, and driving community-level action. All stakeholders were requested to be committed towards ensuring that every girl in the North-East region has access to quality education and the opportunity to realize her full potential.
The conference was graced by distinguished leaders and key influencers, whose presence underscored the importance of the issue at hand. They included the Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed; His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III and His Royal Highness Emir of Bauchi, Alh. (Dr.) Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu.
Others are His Royal Highness Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Mohammed Mera; His Royal Highness Emir of Kazaure, Alhaji Najib Hussaini Adamu, and representatives of emirs of Dutse and Karaye, Prof. Muhammad Sani Bello the Commissioner for Education in Kaduna State; and the Director of Secondary Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Hajiya Binta Abdulkadir.
