The federal government has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to empowering the Nigerian girl-child through inclusive, safe, and quality education.

The minister of state for education, Suwaiba Ahmad, gave this assurance during the validation workshop on the situational analysis and baseline assessment of the Japan-funded UNESCO-IICBA project.

The project is titled “capacity building of teachers to promote continuous and inclusive access to safe and quality education for girls in West Africa”.

According to the minister, building teachers’ capacity is crucial to creating a sustainable, inclusive, and safe learning environment for girls.

“We must continue to engage with local communities and educators to ensure sustainable progress,” she said.

Ms Ahmad reinforced the government’s commitment to girls’ education as part of its renewed initiative.

She emphasised that quality education for girls was a powerful tool for social transformation and lasting peace.

“The empowerment of girls through education is not only a matter of equity but a prerequisite for national development.

“We have prioritised girl-child education as a holistic approach towards transformation,” she said.

Ms Ahmad noted that the project aligned with Nigeria’s education sector renewal initiative, emphasising the necessity of assessing its outcomes for future improvements.

Also speaking, Dr Tanko Sununu, the minister of state for humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction, noted  the importance of the initiative in addressing gender disparities in education.

Mr Sununu pointed out that collaboration between governments, educators, and international organisations was key to achieving the desired outcomes.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to support the initiative and ensure its successful implementation.

“We are fully committed to providing the necessary resources to make this project successful.

“This project is a critical step towards ensuring equal educational opportunities for girls across the region.

“Educating girls is one of the most powerful ways to drive social transformation and economic growth,” he said.

Uchenna Uba, chairperson of the project technical team (PTT), underscored the significance of the project in addressing the educational needs of girls in Nigeria.

Mr Uba highlighted the role of education as a powerful tool for social transformation and economic growth.

Also, Quentin Wodon, director of UNESCO’s International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA), underscored the importance of learning from the project to strengthen pre-service education on girls’ education.

He expressed hope that the project would contribute valuable lessons on strengthening pre-service education for girls.

Kozaki Hitoshi, deputy head of mission at the Japanese Embassy, highlighted Japan’s commitment to the project and the broader goals of educational empowerment.

“The initiative we are validating today is important because it focuses not only on increasing access to primary and secondary education, but on strengthening the very people who are the backbone of the system-the teachers,” he said.

Mr Kozaki also reiterated Japan’s financial support for educational initiatives across the region, adding that Japan was committed to improving access to education for four million girls across Africa. 

(NAN)