States sign declaration to fund Girl-child education Oct 11- NGF reveals

By Folorunso Alagbede

In its determination to reduce the estimated 20 million out-of-school children in the country to the barest minimum, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) has revealed that the 36 State Governments will sign a declaration on October 11, to support and finance education for girls through secondary school.
The revelation was made in a statement in Abuja by the Head of the Education Department of the NGF, Dr. Ebenezer Leo.
NGF noted that signing will take place during the its International Conference on Girl Child Education, scheduled for October 10-11, 2024, in Abuja.
Although the Universal Basic Education Board Act of 2004 mandates that basic education be free and compulsory for every child in Nigeria, a significant number of children are still not enrolled in school.
Recall that the Federal Government,
had recently reiterated its commitment to bringing 10.2 million out-of-school children back to classrooms by 2027.
The Head of the Education Department at the NGF stated that the initiative, titled “Girl Child Empowerment Through Quality Education,” is in line with the United Nations General Assembly’s resolution 66/170, adopted on December 19, 2011, which established the International Day of the Girl Child.
He noted that the conference reaffirms the NGF’s commitment to tackling the challenges girls encounter in Nigeria, especially in the realm of education.
He pointed out that the “Key objectives of the conference include the official launch of GICEVA, which aims to mobilize volunteers through the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Community Development Service (CDS) Groups to promote girl child enrollment in local governments across Nigeria.
The statement added that the unveiling of the Face of the Girl Child Ambassadors will celebrate the academic successes of top graduates, empowering them to advocate for girls’ education in their states, with coordination provided by an overall ambassador for a one-year term.
“Another important aspect of the conference is the signing of a Declaration by the state Commissioners of Education, affirming their commitment to support and fund girl child education in Nigeria up to the Senior Secondary School level.
“This Declaration will be developed in collaboration with organizations dedicated to promoting girls’ education globally”, he stressed.
Leo further announced a key initiative from the education department: the Education Policy Research and Development Team, which aims to create evidence-based education policies that meet national and international standards.
He noted that their work includes conducting research to guide policy decisions, improving the quality of educational data and engaging stakeholders is essential to ensure these policies remain relevant and effective.
It reads in part: “The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) is excited to announce its upcoming International Conference on Girl Child Education, set to take place in Banquet Hall Presidential Villa, Abuja on October 10-11, 2024.
“The International Conference will launch the Girl Child Education Volunteers’ Advocates (GICEVA) initiative, a platform designed to engage volunteers in advocating for girl child education across Nigeria.
“The conference will also unveil the Face of the Girl Child Ambassadors, who will represent the commitment to girl child education among corp members (NYSC) in Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“The conference agenda includes presentations from development partners and donor agencies, who will discuss the current landscape of girl child education in Nigeria, highlighting trends, challenges, and potential solutions.
“Engaging panel discussions featuring experts, educators, and activists will explore the barriers to girl child education and the strategies needed to overcome them.

“Workshops and training sessions will also be conducted for GICEVA members, equipping them with essential advocacy skills.

“The second day of the conference will feature keynote addresses from eminent speakers, including education experts and government officials, emphasizing the critical importance of girl child education.

“The formal launch of the GICEVA initiative will take place, alongside the unveiling of the Face of the Girl Child Ambassadors, symbolizing academic excellence and commitment to girls’ education.”

The NGF stated that the creation of GICEVA is intended to boost advocacy for girl child education by mobilizing more volunteers to promote education at the grassroots level.

Leo noted that signing the Declaration will reinforce the governments’ commitment to supporting and funding initiatives for girl child education.

Continuing, the statement said, “the Face of the Girl Child Ambassadors will serve as role models, inspiring young girls to pursue academic excellence and advocate for their rights to education.

“Lastly, the conference aims to strengthen partnerships among government agencies, NGOs, and international organizations to work collaboratively toward ensuring quality education for every girl child in Nigeria.

“The NGF’s International Conference on Girl Child Education represents a pivotal moment for advancing the cause of girl child education in Nigeria.

“By bringing together key stakeholders, experts, and advocates, the conference seeks to devise actionable strategies to ensure that every girl child in Nigeria receives a quality education.”