UNICEF Cash Transfer Attracts Girls To Sokoto, Zamfara Schools

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) cash transfer programme has impacted positively in the enrollment and retention of girls in primary and secondary schools in Zamfara and Sokoto states.

The education secretary, Bodinga local government area, Lawal Naakka Muazu who revealed this while answering questions from journalists in his office, said the idea of cash transfer to women encouraged parents to support girl-child education across the states.

According to him, most parents utilized the money in rearing domestic animals to raise the economic standard of the entire family and effective sponsorship of the girl-child study.

Muazu said the intervention of UNICEF has greatly impacted the enrollment of girl-child in the local government area.

Earlier, UNICEF education manager Sokoto field office, Miriam Mereso said that UNICEF’s support helped greatly in the increase of enrollment of pupils in schools, especially girls within Sokoto and Zamfara states.
“There is greater awareness now more than ever before in the enrollment and retention of girls child in primary and secondary school”, she stressed.
In her goodwill message, UNICEF chief field officer in charge of Sokoto, Marya Darshe said the intervention GEP 3 programme focused on junior and senior secondary schools.
According to her, the programme was aimed at improving learning and transitions for adolescent girls through curricular and extra curricula activities.
Maryam acknowledged the role of traditional leaders, HiLWA, mother’s groups in the enrollment, retention and transportation of girl-child in schools.
In his remarks, the executive chairman, Sokoto State Universal Basic Education Board, Altine Shehu Kajiji reiterated the determination of the board to mobilize for the enrollment of more females in schools.
He said SUBEB in partnership with UNICEF has trained and re-trained primary school teachers for better output.
Kajiji further revealed that, Quranic schools were also incorporated into the programme of educating the girl-child.