The project, a collaboration between the Federal Government of Nigeria and UNICEF was a critical plan of action to ensure that as many girls as boys are in school by 2020. "The challenge in Nigeria is significant. Of the 3.2 million children who are out of school, 2.6 million of them are girls. Every effort to identify and remove the obstacles that prevent these girls from accessing and completing a quality basic education will work, at the same time, to improve the quality of learning for all children, boys and girls alike", a statement from UNICEF said.
"SAGEN is a national response to a global challenge to rapidly reduce the number of out-of-school girls. Nigeria is one of the 25 countries in UNICEF's '25 by 2020' campaign, which aims to close the gender gap in schools in 25 countries by 2020", the statement further stressed. Developed in close consultation with partners in the field of education, SAGEN outlines a plan of accelerated action to ensure that all girls currently denied access to quality education are in school by 2020. It takes into account work already being done by development agencies and funding partners as part of the Education for All (EFA) movement. It seeks to enhance and complement existing initiatives and efforts in the interest of accelerating progress in girls' education as an integral part of EFA.
Hence, speaking at the occasion, Bellamy commended the Federal Government's strong commitment to improving access and quality in basic education throughout Nigeria, particularly with respect to girls education. "Nigeria is a prominent member of the 25 by 2020 group of countries that have pledged to accelerate progress on girls' education within the coming two years. "Just a month ago, in Ougadougou. I had the pleasure of participating in the West and Central African Regional launch of "25 by 2020" with the President of Burkina Faso. That meeting was attended by high-level representatives from all 24 countries in the region. Eight of which, including the largest - Nigeria - have been identified as countries that can greatly benefit from an accelerated drive to advance girls education:" she said.?
One of the key questions posed in Ouagadougou she said was: "Can we afford to invest in girls' education as a means to achieving EFA goals? She added that "we cannot afford not to"? She described girls' education as the single intervention that could produce the best, most wide-ranging results for long-term sustainable development. "It is the world's best hope", she emphasised. This is so as it protects girls from exploitation, hazardous and exploitative forms of labour, and HIV/AIDS. It optimises the birth rate, reducing early pregnancies and infant/child mortality. "Girls' education has also been said to improve family cohesion, health and nutrition. Above all, it contributes to stronger economies and to building lasting democracies. "It is in recognition of these, together with the alarming disparities that still exist within some countries, that the '25 by 2020 Initiative' was developed, which aims at providing an agreed- upon platform for accelerating and coordinating work on girls' education", she stressed. While the thrust of the effort is on achieving the millennium development goals and EFA, the initiative is also a key component in the "World Fit for Children", the action plan of last year's General Assembly's Special Session on Children - as well in as the realisation of the NEPAD goals.
Of the 25 countries participating in the global initiative, 15 are in Africa, eight of them in the West and Central African Region. Thus, as Africa's largest nation, it is only natural to expect that Nigeria will set an example for others. Bellamy observed that those who do not currently enjoy their right to basic education are the poor who live in remote areas and in urban slums. "This is why UNICEF has committed itself to assisting countries in achieving the millennium development goal of achieving gender parity in education first by 2020, and has made this a top organisational priority. We are delighted that the Nigerian Government shares this priority with us", she added.
The UNICEF boss was of the view that Nigeria has a remarkable opportunity to set the pace, having successfully made the transition from one civilian democratic government to another while retaining much of the key leadership to ensure continuity, unlike countries incapacitated by civil or external wars. She equally observed that amid the politics, Nigeria has demonstrated strong commitment towards children with the passage of a Child Rights Bill, which amplifies its commitment to upholding the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. "So our expectation is that parity can indeed be achieved in the short term. The national average is 12 per cent. However, what we need to address urgently is the problem in states with disparity as high as 48 per cent. It is in such states that our principal efforts must therefore be focused. "Girls need a safe and supportive environment free from abuse, with separate toilet facilities, safe and available drinking water, equal attention and a gender sensitive curriculum. And let us not forget that boys will also benefit from all these aspects. The creation of a favourable and sustainable policy environment is critical. Nigeria is to be congratulated for the strategic plan for Universal Basic Education (UBE) that commits it to provide child and girl friendly schools. l note that EFA plans are being developed at the state level and a focused national EFA plan is soon to be elaborated for Nigeria. UNICEF hopes that these will quickly be translated into action", she noted. She equally spoke about the issue of Non-formal education. "It is essential to increasing access for out-of-school girls, need to be accredited as a complementary means of learning. Nomadic and Koranic forms of education require our support towards building a more effective and comprehensive curriculum. child protection measures also need to be implemented to prevent the exploitation that all too often keeps children, especially girls, away from school" she said.
She called for partnerships with other multilateral agencies, the civil society, the private sector and like-minded bilateral donors. She cited a number of organisation which are already collaborating with UNICEF in this regards while noting the investment opportunities workshop held in Ougadougou last month. This, she further said signalled increasing levels of collaboration with the World Bank. "We are also seeking to broaden and deepen relations with civil society, including the Nigerian Forum for African Women's Education. We have also developed key private sector partnerships with British Airways, DHL and the Sheraton Hotel group. Sceptics will ask whether the elimination of gender disparities by 2020 is truly feasible. I would point to recent examples of good practices that encourage confidence - on the cost-effective satellite schools established in Burkina Faso to the use of proxy buildings for schools in Bhutan to Mothers' Clubs in The Gambia - and here in Nigeria to girls-only schools," she stressed.
In Benin City, Bellamy had a session with the Governor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion and the traditional head, Omo'n'Oba, Uku Akpulokpolo, Oba Erediuwa. She called for concerted efforts against international prostitution, HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, especially in Edo State. Accompanied by UNICEF Representative in Nigeria Dr. Ezio Gianni Murzi, the Deputy Representative and Senior Programme Officer, B-Field, Dr. Barbara Raynolds, the Assistant Representative and Chief of Field Office, Dr. Noel Ihebuzor as well as Mr. Tom Mshindi, chief of communication, Bellamy pleaded with both the governor and the traditional ruler to help stem the rate of involvement of their indigenous in the inglorious international sex trade. "As a key partner within the FGN/UNICEF Country Programme of Cooperation in the South West of Nigeria. I am happy to acknowledge the milestone achieved by your previous administration in the struggle to ensure that the basic rights of children and women are respected and promoted in your State. "The passage of Bills against trafficking in children and young women and against Female Genital Cutting by the Edo State House of Assembly is indeed a milestone in this campaign. I urge other states to emulate the Edo State example. However, whilst these are positive steps much more needs to be done", she said. At the Oba's palace, Bellamy called his attention to the many challenges facing all leaders in these opening years of the 21st century including human trafficking, sex trade, HIV/AIDS and urged him not only to speak and mobilise parents to educate their children and young people about the epidemic, but "to examine and address the socio-cultural causes that lead young women to consider prostitution an acceptable option for economic self-empowerment"..
"The HIV prevalence rate in Edo State of 7.8 per cent is a cause for great concern. Young people between the ages of 10 and 24 are the most affected. Again. we must mobilise parents, teachers, the mass media and the young people themselves in our onslaught against HIV/AIDS. It is not just time to "break the silence" but time to speak out boldly and at every opportunity to take action against this disease. We cannot afford to do less", she advised. Bellamy also called for increase budgetary allocations to social services, increase educational opportunities for young people, create more jobs, reduce household poverty, among others. "Our young people are demanding nothing less and will hold us accountable. In this regard. I commend Your Excellency for your support to the Youth Skills Acquisition Centre in Benin. which will be co-funded with the Swedish Government and UNICEF. I shall keenly follow the progress of this innovative project. My expectation is that it will become a model of positive action to help stem youth restiveness in the Niger Delta region. which other states can emulate", she said.
Other highlights of the visit was the meeting and dialogue with 20 child parliamentarians from Delta and Edo States. She also exchange views with four National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) peer educators from Akure and Ondo States who were working on youth HIV/AIDS awareness and training. programmes.
Source: allafrica.com
