To address the growing number of early marriages, especially of young and under aged girls, the safety of schools needs to be beefed-up and prioritized so that proper learning can occur, according to stakeholders in the child development.
They noted that there can never be tangible and sustainable development in the country if the education of children, particularly of the gild-child is not prioritized. However, schools cannot function and learning cannot take place if the environment is not safe.
Calling on the government at all levels to put security apparatuses in place that will guarantee the safety of school children, which will in turn reduce the number of early marriages of the girl-child, they also urged parents and the community to collaborate with the government to ensure their safety and that of their children.
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Speaking during a panel session at the National Council on Women Affairs meeting by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in Abuja, which is supported by the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) through its PAWED programme funded by Bills and Melinda Gates Foundation, His Royal Highness, Magaji Zandam, Ambassador Gidado Suleiman Farfaru, a community leader from Katsina State, explained that the issue of insecurity nearly put a stop to the education and other business concerns in his community, as its members fled to neighbouring countries like Niger to avoid being killed.
He said: “Thanks to God, recently, dRPC came with an innovative programme which is education in emergencies. We received the training and went back to our community and cascaded the training at the community level, especially among stakeholders.
“We taught the students on emergency evacuation processes, that is, on how to safeguard themselves whenever there is an attack. We taught them about the early warning strategies for them to be alert on their way to school, in school and on their way back home. This programme has brought back hope to us to know that our children will be able to learn properly.”
The Commissioner of Human Services and Social Development in Kaduna State, Hajia Hafsat Baba, added: “The security of our children is very important. Kaduna is facing that kind of challenge, but we are doing our very best to ensure that our children are well-secured. We started by fencing the schools to ensure safety, and then we also have the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs. We also have the Kaduna State Vigilance Service; they are young people that have been trained in terms of security to ensure the schools are well secured.”
His Royal Highness, Sarkin Yakin Gagi, Alhaji Sani Umar Jabbi, District Head in Sokoto; Dr. Mairo Mandara, founder of girl-child concerns; and Mrs. Amina Hanga, Executive Secretary of Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative based in Kano, who were on the panel session also urged the Government to address the growing rate of poverty, attacks on schools, which in turn discourages attendance in schools, and leaves the girl-child vulnerable to early marriage.