Kaduna deputy governor’s wife to boost girl child education, calls for support
By Alex Uangbaoje, Kaduna
The Wife of the Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Mrs Ladi Bantex, on Tuesday, renewed commitment to address the plight of women in the state by promoting girl child education in the state.
Bantex, who stated this in Kaduna, added that women have continued to lag behind the male counterpart due to failure to educate the girl child.
Bantex said that she has concluded plans to boost girl child education in the state through her NGO, Second Chance Initiative, specifically established to address societal challenges affecting the girl child.
She explained that the NGO was established to promote girl child education and give school dropout girls a second chance in life.
She added that to make more impact, the NGO would expand interventions in the area of HIV/AIDS, hygiene and drug abuse.
Bantex noted that of the more than seven billion population of the world, 1.1 billion are girls with talents, creativity and full of abilities.
However, she pointed out that culture, religion, tradition, poverty and illiteracy, among other factors, had hindered and limited the full development of the girl child.
“Our findings indicates that in September girl child school enrollment in secondary school for example is usually high.
“But by January, schools witnessed high dropout, particularly among the girls, because most of them becomes pregnant with no idea of motherhood; some even took to drug and substance abuse.
“If they are not properly educated, they would not be able to properly take care of their children or educate them, “she said.
Bantex said: “Second Chance Initiative is conducting series of meetings with heads of primary and secondary schools, women leaders, religious and traditional leaders to workout strategies on how to property care and educate the girl child.
“We would carry out massive awareness campaign to relevant stakeholders on the need to pay serious attention on the girl child.
“We would equally carry out enlightenment campaign to educate the gild child on how to exploit their potentials and live a productive life.
“This is because girls transition from adolescent to adulthood is quite challenging.
“At that stage, they are usually confused, vulnerable and make a lot of wrong choices. They need to be guided.”
She said that for the dropout, the answer was to work out a way for them to be reabsorbed in school to complete their education and be equipped with skills.
“We are already discussing with principals of Secondary schools to that effect.
“We are equally working out adult education programme for adult women to acquire basic education to enable then survive this highly male dominated and competitive world, “she added.
Bantex disclosed that Second Chance Initiative, with Head Office in Manchok, Kaura local government area of the state, has reached out to thousandths of school dropout, particularly women, since establishment in 2000.
She said that the beneficiaries, largely from Kaura local government area were equipped with knitting and sewing skills and were provided with equipment and loan facilities as take up package.
“This is the best way to stand up for girls’ progress everywhere”.
She called on relevant stakeholders and the global community to partner with Second Chance to reach out to young girls and empower them with education and basic skills to live a productive life.
According to her, girls are engine of national development and stress the need to promote girl child education in preparing them for a better future.
“We all have a duty to strengthen and support girl child progress in Kaduna State and the nation, “she said.
