Abubakar-Ajuji, Fayose make case for girl child education

Hajiya Ramatu Abubakar-Ajuji, Nasarawa State Commissioner for Education, on Wednesday appealed to parents/guardians to place high premium on the education of the girl child.

Abubakar-Ajuji made the call during interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia.

She had just inspected the construction of Federal Government Junior Girls Model Secondary School in Kwandare, Lafia Local Government Area of the state.

The commissioner added that the era of sending girls to hawk in the streets was over.

“The education of the girl-child should be paramount and non-negotiable in the change agenda of the government and parents if the country is to develop.’’

Abubakar-Ajuji kicked against cultural and religious sentiments which hindered education of the girl-child, urging parents to shun such sentiments in the interest of their wards.

She urged the three tiers of government to develop strategies and ensure that the girl child was given qualitative and quantitative education.

Abubakar-Ajuji charged parents and guardians to strive to ensure good education for their female children and wards, saying “when you educate a girl in a family, it is the same as educating a family.

“The development of any group of people is dependent upon the quality of education that is given to the girl-child in that community.

“Women have become a decisive segment of our nation and should be encouraged as part of the nation’s development agenda’’, she added.

The commissioner said the quality of education received by girls would play a big role in the kind of upbringing their children would receive at home and the quality of leaders the country would produce for the future.

“When a girl is educated, she grows up into a woman who has adequate information on the welfare of her family, the health of her children and sundry other issues that will impact on the society.’’

Abubabar-Ajuji also said educating women would enhance their participation in politics and the quality of advice that the men they supported received as decision makers.

Also, Feyisetan Fayose, wife of the Ekiti State Governor, has charged mothers on proper upbringing of their female children to curb immorality especially teenage pregnancy.
Fayose spoke at a town hall meeting with women in Ikole Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday.

She frowned at the increase number of teenage pregnancy.

The governor’s wife attributed the development to lack of proper upbringing and care.

She urged parents, especially mothers, to educate female children on the need to face their studies and abstain from premarital sex to avoid unwanted pregnancy.
Fayose called on mothers to monitor their female children by advising them on the consequences of immoral acts.

She also urged pregnant women to devote more time on the type of food they consumed, stressing that they should eat foods that are nutritious for the benefit of the unborn child.

Fayose also urged the women to embrace family planning, saying “stop giving birth once you have two or three children you are capable of training.’’

The governor’s wife distributed tins of powder milk and delivery kits to the pregnant women as well as school bags and sandals to indigent pupils.