From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
No fewer than 150 Almajiri and out of schools adolescents girls have been enrolled into formal education system in Kafin Hausa local government in Jigawa state.
The project was executed by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with Jigawa state ministry of women affairs through Exceptional Leadership and Integrity Promotion Initiative (ELIP).
Speaking during the flag up ceremony of the program, the ELIP-INITIATIVE executive director comrade Isah Mustapha said, the program is carried out by UNICEF in collaboration with Jigawa state ministry of women affairs across 27 local government in the state.
“We provide educational skills to OOSAGs and Almajiri of ages 10-14 and Vocational skills to those at ages of 15-19 while150 OOSAGs and Almajiri were re-and enrolled back to school each were given a set of uniform , school bag, sandal and writing materials. as we are witnessing today and another 150 are currently at various workshops and training hub acquiring training and skills on various trades and enterprises”,he said.
He explained that, in the month September 2022, the Jigawa State Ministry of Women Affairs and social development with support from UNICEF carried out the verification of 123,996 almajiri and OOSAGs in Jigawa state across 27 LGAs, from the data verified, 8000 almajiri and OOSAGs wre selected from four LGAs (Birnin kudu, Dutse, yankwashi and kafin hausa) to benefit from social welfare services through case management in the roll out of interventions.
Comrade Isah said, under the project, 2000 almajiri and OOSAGs were selected in this LGA and 25 community-based structures were identified and assessed to ascertain their capacity on how to identify, report, respond and refer cases of abuse, violence against adolescent children and girls at risk of early marriage.
The executive director added that the project also build the capacity of 100 identified community-based structures such as SBMCs, Women groups, CBOs, Surveillance groups etc to support prevention and responses to Sexual violence and Child marriage.
“10000 community members (/Men, women, Girls, Boys) reached through community dialogues Community-based structures supported with SBC interventions.
“25 CBOS were trained and empowered with skills on case management using CPIMS+ v.2.0Document and report about 2,000 children cases using CPIMS.
“Life and transferable skills taught to 2000 Out of School adolescent Girls and Almajiri improving knowledge on hygiene, SRHR and channels available to report abusesProvide OOSAGs and Almajiri of ages 10-14 with life and educational skills and 15-19 Vocational skills”, comrade Isah said.“
