By Abdul-Mumin Abdul-Quadir
The National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-formal Education, NMEC, has taken its nationwide campaign for community awareness towards establishing the girl-child right to early education to the southwest region of Nigeria.
The programme aims to return out-of-school girls to the classroom.
It is one of the commission’s initiatives in synergising with key players to tackle the menacing problem out of school children, especially girls.
The southwestern edition of the programme, held in Lagos on Friday, 28th February 2025, was well attended by nongovernmental organisations from Lagos and the southwest.
There, the commission charged NGOs, who bridge the gap between government and the grassroots, to further advance the cause of the girl-child right to early education.
Speaking for NMEC, Mr. Mutiu Adenola, said that the problem of out of school children has become a bogging national issue, and the girl-child is mostly affected.
He said: “The number of out of school girls has been observed to be a menace. The girl-child alone accounts for about 70% of the thirty million out of school children in the country. It is so disheartening and worrisome. So, the government felt the need to address the problem and prevent consequential outcomes.
“Government understands the relevance of girl-child education to national development and will not undermine the right of every child who is supposed to be in the classroom. Hence, the commission conceived this initiative. It is a nationwide campaign and brainstorming with stakeholders in the education of the girl-child.”
He said that the advocacy, having touched five geopolitical zones of the country, would be proceeding to Calabar for the South-South edition.
“This programme is meant to take place in every region of the country. We started from Birnin-Kebbi in the North-West, proceeded to Adamawa in the North-East and then to F.C.T., for the North-Central. We then came down to the south and took it from Imo State for the South-East, we are here now, and by the grace of God, we’ll proceed to Calabar for the South-South, where the programme will be rounding off. We’ll then entrust furtherance of the campaign in the hands of state governments, their agencies, and NGOs,” he added.
He explained that the programme runs through the five working days of the week and engages different stakeholders in the education of the girl-child, including parents, teachers, and school administrators, policy makers and NGOs to ensure that its purpose is met.
The programme facilitator, Mobolaji Fanimo, stressed the importance of advocacy tackling issues related to the girl-child.
He said: “The major facing Nigeria is cultural, because Nigerians have to grapple with differences of culture, religion and beliefs in a heterogeneous, multi-ethnic and multi-religious society. Hence, approaches to societal problems and communal issues vary from place to place.
“For this reason, enlightenment becomes imperative, especially through advocacies like this. The week has been busy, with engaging involving different stakeholders involved. I see that governments tap from all the key players to tackle the problem holistically. ”
He identified the home as the primary player in ensuring the safety of the girl-child while in the cause of education.
“Sometimes, there are concerns about the safety of the girl-child in the cause learning. To rid this, the home should measure up to its task and enlighten the girl-child on abuse and related matters. Abusers thrive because their victims don’t speak. If girls can confide in their parents, perpetrators will be brought to book and the vice will be reduced to the barest minimum.”
In a breakout session, participating NGOs identified the challenges facing the girl-child education to include bureaucracy, policy, lack of access to funding, and attitude of the girl-child herself. They suggested more synergies and partnership as one of the ways out.
Some of them lauded the initiative, and opined that such programmes should come up more often.
Maria Ese from Child-To-Child Network said: “I’ve learnt a lot here today. I only government has to do more, particularly in terms of security. As NGOs, we have to deal with security issues. We’re sometimes denied access to these children that we’re trying to help.
Daniella Ohiowere from Pace Setter Initiative said: “At Pace Setters, we equip the girl-child with literacy and vocational skills. We teach them to be expressive, but with this programme, I can say we’ve been charged to do even more. I feel programmes like this should come more often because it is really impactful.
