Kano government, bodies train schoolgirls, teachers on financial literacy, others

The Kano government has partnered MacArthur Foundation and Mercy Corps to train 253,712 schoolgirls in financial literacy statewide.

The Project Manager of Girls Opportunities for Advancing Literacy 2 (GOAL 2), a brainchild of the corps, Esther Musa, noted that 35,443 other girls were participating in saving groups. She said the training, which covers 18 months, was key to the financial independence of the beneficiaries.

Musa that disclosed that during the workshop, tagged From Evidence to Action and organised by GOAL 2 in Kano, students made N3,732,720 in the 1,925 school savings groups.

She said: “So far, we have the sum of N3,732,720 as savings made by students under 1,925 school savings groups. Which shows the zeal and commitment of both the students and their teachers towards financial independence.”

According to her, a total number of 1,275 teachers were trained on financial education. The figure comprised 496 females and 779 males. She added that 1,338 manuals were distributed to further aid the teachers.

Musa also revealed that 536 guidance and counselling committees have been raised, explaining that “…2,415 girls were trained in education counselling, 1,959 for career/vocational and 2,526 on personal-social counselling.”

The programme manager commended the state government for its cooperation and commitment towards the success of the project, adding: “We were thrilled when our memorandum of understanding (MoU) got the approval of the State Executive Council.”

On the teachers, she revealed that 820 of them were trained as counsellors in practical instruction guide. Musa broke down the figure as 420 females and 400 males while “36 master trainers got empowerment on guidance and counseling.”

To broaden the project beyond girls in secondary schools, she said: “Under Science Board, 43 were trained for boys’ schools, five which were females. As part of the development on the initial plan, 20 teachers from the State Agency for Mass Education were also trained on financial literacy to cover all centres.”

In his remarks, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, represented by his Senior Adviser on Education, Dr Bakari Hussein, pledged that government would sustain the programme.

He decried the absence of a comprehensive curriculum for financial literacy education in the country.