Sokoto State Government on Tuesday tasked education stakeholders’ and community groups on effective sensitization and advocacy for safe schools and students across the 23 Local Government Areas.
Alhaji Tukur Alkali, Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, made the call at a meeting with stakeholders in commemoration of the International Day to Protect Education from Attack.
Alkali who was represented by Alhaji Abdullahi Altine-Durbawa, underscored the need for school environment to be made safe in all communities to ensure that no child, under any circumstances will be deprived to learn.
He noted that if schools are not safe or environment is perceived to be harmful there were every tendency that the children would not stay.
He stressed the need for effective advocacy from traditional leaders, down to School Based Management Committee (SBMC) among others.
The Commissioner commended Plan International; EU-Funded project tagged ” Accelerating Basic Education and Livelihood Opportunities for Children and Youth in North Western Nigeria. ”
In his address, the State Project Coordinator, Mr Joseph Julius, said the overall objective of the project is to support education and youth empowerment in North-West Nigeria.
Julius said the support comprised on providing youth, in particular girls in rural underserved and nomadic communities with access to inclusive gender transformative and conflict-sensitive equitable quality education and skill development.
” Supporting the government’s efforts to address the challenge of Out of School Children and Youth (OOSCY) through the institutionalization of the Accelerated Basic Education Programme (ABEP) in the 3 states.
” The project will also support the efforts of the Federal and respective State Governments to empower youth with job-creative skills through vocational training as well as address the barriers that girls and women face to access education and livelihood opportunities, ” he said.
He further emphasized on the need to intensify efforts and increase funding to promote safe and protective school environments in humanitarian emergencies by taking all feasible measures to protect schools.
According to him, efforts would prevent learners and educational personnel from attack, refrain from actions that impede children’s access to education as we as facilitate access to education in situations of armed conflict.
Newsmen reports that the event featured presentations, discussions and development of key messages to be shared on social, local and national media.
The topic was ” Protecting Education: A Shared Responsibility” and participants included representatives of ministry of Education, Nigeria Police, Nigeria. Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) State Security Service and Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
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