By Christiana Ekpa
The House of Representatives has tasked the Federal Government to tackle the rising number of out-of-school girls in the country by introducing free and compulsory education for the girl child.
The lawmakers made the demand after adopting a motion by Kafilat Ogbara (APC-Lagos) during plenary on Thursday.
The motion was moved to mark the commemoration of the 2023 International Day of the Girl Child.
Ogbara said the last survey by UNICEF revealed that 18.5 million children were out of school in Nigeria, 60 per cent of which were girls.
She said adolescent girls had the right to a safe, educated and healthy life, adding that investing in girls’ leadership involves creating space and platforms for girls to raise their voices at every level of policy
making.
“The International Day of the Girl Child acknowledges the importance, power and potential of adolescent girls around the world by spotlighting other issues such as poor learning opportunities,” she said.
Other issues, according to her, include discrimination, exclusion of children with disabilities and those living in marginalized communities.
Ogbara expressed concern over the high number of out-of-school girls that are engaging in drug abuse and other vices in Nigeria.
She said that investment in critical steps such as the Girls Rights under the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) would help to fast track the SDG goals.
The lawmaker added that the current trend in Nigeria revealed that young girls who were sexually abused by their parents/guardians, returned back to the same house where they were abused after police intervention.
The House urged Federal Government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) saddled with the responsibility of training and empowerment to ensure compulsory vocational skills for the girl child.
The House equally mandated its Committee on Women Affairs to engage with all relevant MDAs to ensure compliance.
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