EVA IWD 2025: Kaduna Girls advocate for freedom, says Women not slaves, have same rights as men

By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna

Girls advocates under the “Fostering Accountability for Girls’ Education” project, being implemented by Education as a Vaccine (EVA), in Kaduna State, has appealed to government and all stakeholders for freedom from all forms of barriers limiting women from being at par with their men counterparts in Nigeria.

“Fostering Accountability for Girls’ Education” project is aims at promoting the implementation of relevant policies that ensure free and compulsory education for girls in Kaduna State, improve the capacity of a critical mass of girls and young women to co-lead advocacy and accountability engagements within the education sector.

Strengthen the existing citizen-led platforms and initiatives for accountability in the education sector to deliver impact for girls’ education and mobilize parents and community leaders to actively support the retention of girls in school by addressing key barriers through community dialogues, according to the Kaduna State Coordinator EVA, Mercy Abalaku.

The girls who expressed concerns over the way women are being treated in the country as second class citizens, noted that the time has come for people to realise women are not slaves but have the same rights as the men.

The advocates raised their voices in Hanwa Community in Zaria at the weekend on the sidelines of an event to commemorate the International Women’s Day (IWD) with the theme “Accelate Action”, organised by EVA with support from Malala Foundation.

One of the girls, 16 Years old Rebecca Onuwa, in her submission stated that time has come to change patriarchal thinking and stereotypes that limits girls’ aspirations and potentials.

“There are many stereotypes that have been placed up to women saying that they don’t have the right to go to school. Many men say they can’t marry an independent women because she has the money and she will be rude. But that’s not it. 

“We all have the right to be educated, we have the right to have our own money, we are not slaves. We all have equal rights with men, we came to the world the same way and we are going to live the same way. 

“So there’s no any need for a hierarchical form of government whereby we say it’s only men that can rule. It’s only men that have social rights to do things. It’s not like that, we all have equal rights. We have the same goals. 

“We have potentials. Just like men who say I want to build a house, I want to have my own money. So as women, we also have that zeal to build our own house, to have our own money, to have our own freedom.” She explained.

Rebecca said in her own way as an advocate trained by EVA, she has been talking to her peers in schools and those who are not in school about their rights and the importance of education.

“I’ve been having peer-to-peer sessions, telling them the importance of education and also telling them about accountability, social accountability and also advocating for their rights.” She added.

Mardiyya Murtala, 17 years SS2 student, noted that despite globalization and campaigns about equality many men still believe that girls are created for housework and to live as housewives all their lives.

“The greatest discrimination that we are facing today is that some people believe that girls are meant for housework and marrying off, while the boys will be the ones to go to school. But this is not true, we too have the right to go to school. 

“Education is not a privilege, it is our right. We have the right to do it. We will continue to do this advocacy, to speak out about the importance of girls’ education by this, I hope governments will come in and support girls’ education.” Mardiyya said.

21 Years old Sa’adatu Ahmed, believes that when a girl is educated the possibility of her being sexually harassed will reduce because she will become exposed not to go to places where she can be taken advantage of.

She said as a girls advocate, she’s not only committed to advocating for the liberty of girls, she is also committed to supporting the system to give them the enabling environment to thrive.

“I would like to improve girls’ education by creating a public awareness to my society and donating to local organisations like the Malala Fund and the likes who are supporting girls’ education and advocacy.

“I will always be speaking against the barriers that hinders girls’ education and draw government and other stakeholders attention to them, by this, I hope government will come with bring more support to us.” Sa’adatu said.

For 18 Years old Amina Aliyu, government needs to create a safe and conducive environment for the girls to thrive.

She noted that most government schools are not fenced which makes the girls more vulnerable in their place of learning.

On her part, 20 years old Hafsat Ahmed, said holding the government and the School Based Management Committee (SBMC), accountable is key for all the students especially the girls.

“They need to know how the resources being allocated to their school and community are being utilised. This is what we have been thought and this is what we are teaching our peers.” Hafsat added.

In his welcome address, Director of Schools, Kaduna State Ministry of Education, Muhtar Maude, emphasised the importance of girls in the society, saying “women education gives freedom and that women education is a key priority for the state government.”