The Sokoto state government, in collaboration with seven donor agencies, opened training for 50 adolescent girls on digital literacy and other livelihood skills.

The training is part of the 2023 International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration, an annual UN global observance to celebrate women and bring issues that affect women and girls to the fore, and proffer solutions to problems identified.

The training was anchored by the Sokoto State Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and the Sokoto State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SSPHCDA) with supporting donors.

The supporting agencies are the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), USAID, Plan International, The Challenge Initiative (TCI), Breakthrough Action, Merie Stopes Nigeria and MOMENTUM Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetrics (MSSFPO) Project.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Hajiya A’isha Dantsoho, said that the programme was combined with IWD and International Adolescents Health Week, aimed at spotlighting women-related issues.

Ms Dantsoho explained that the basic computer literacy training was designed to be part of the week to prepare the 50 adolescent girls for online courses, software knowledge and other digital skills to suit contemporary policies.

She added that the beneficiaries comprised adolescent girls’ survivors of Gender Based Violence (GBV), Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) and persons with disabilities in Sokoto.

She said adolescent girls were targeted because they were in their transformation stage from childhood to womanhood, a critical period in their lives.

She added that the adolescent age for girls is a challenging period where some may be molested or sexually abused, along with other growth destabilisation challenges.

According to her, the training is to impart knowledge to adolescent girls on health rights, Sexual Reproductive Health Right (SRHR), business startups and other issues.

“We are trying to catch them young and build their capacity against all forms of challenges such as GBV, VVF, child marriage and other livelihood support skills,” Dantsoho said.

The Director, Community Health in SSPHCDA, Hajiya Amina Abdullahi, said the adolescent girls were being prepared to fight for their rights, voice out problems and feelings and reach adulthood with full awareness of handling diverse issues.

Ms Abdullahi explained that modalities were in progress to expand Adolescent Youth Centres across the state to allow adolescent girls to access knowledge, information and issues concerning their future.

Gloria Enuaze, the UNFPA Programme Officer in Sokoto State, described the training as unique and an opportunity to enhance the capacity of adolescent girls in society.

(NAN)