By Umar Faruk Birnin Kebbi
Nigeria Labour Congress women committee has lauded Kebbi State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris, for the sustained support of his administration towards women empowerment and girl child education in the state.
The Governor has also been described as ‘ Labour friendly Governor ‘ for supporting the activities of the Congress in the state.
Comrade Hadiza Abubakar Ribah, Chairperson, Women Committee Nigeria Labour Congress, Kebbi State Council made the commendation in Birnin Kebbi at the North-West Zonal Conference meeting attended by Chairpersons and Secretaries of the seven states of the North-West zone.
The theme for the conference is “Barriers for Young Women and Girl-Child Education in Northern Nigeria”.
According to her, such Conferences supported by Dr. Nasir led administration and hosted in Kebbi State has boosted the morale of the women committee as well as encouraged them to continue to support the present administration in its drive for women empowerment and girl child education campaign in the state.
The Chairperson also acknowledged the efforts of the wife of the governor, Hajiya Nasare Nasir Idris for her continuous partnership with NLC women committee in the State.
She also said that the conference, which is holding for the first time in Kebbi State with the effort of the wife of the Governor was promoting the campaign on women and girl child education, Gender Based Violence,GBV, as well as women empowerment, all aimed at improving the livelihood and income for women.
She appealed to Kebbi State Government to provide the women with a vehicle and support the women committee to carry out its campaign on the International Women’s Day coming up in March,2024.
In her remarks, the wife of Kebbi Governor, Hajiya Zainab Idris, says Kebbi State Government has attached great importance to girl child education, empowerment of women and condemned gender based violence and rape.
She said with the introduction of Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), the state has achieved increase in the enrollment of adolescent girl by 40 per cent.
” Recently, Gov. Nasir Idris flagged off the construction and upgrade of 120 secondary schools across the state valued at N8.9 billion under the programme of Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE).
“The aim of the initiative is to promote the education sector by providing a conducive learning environment for children with focus on girl – child education.
” That is why as a responsible government we are tackling education challenges head – on with the introduction of AGILE.
“The AGILE culminated in an increase in the enrollment of adolescent girl by 40 per cent and most of them have proceeded to obtain their secondary school certificate.”
The wife of the governor, Hajiya Zainab Nasare was represented by the Wife of the Deputy Gov. Hajiya Maryam Umar-Tafida.
Earlier, in her remarks, the North- West Zonal Coordinator,Mrs Martha Haruna-Banki, said that the committee had been established for quite some times as a way to further encourage women and train them to be productive members of the society.
She said that the continued support to women would help proffer lasting solution to the issues of Gender-Based Violence of all kinds in the state.
She lamented that the rate of rape, child battering, domestic violence was on the high side in recent times.
“The rate of rape, child battering, domestic violence is on the high side. We cannot rule out poverty playing a vital role in this menace in our society in addition to poor enlightenment on the need to see the value of women in the society’.
The State NLC Chairman, Comrade,Comrade Murtala Usman lauded the NLC women committee for organising the conference and called on the participants to make useful suggestions on issues pertaining development of women.
A paper on Barriers to Women and Girl Child Education in Northern Nigeria was presented by Alhaji Garba Hamisu-Zuru, the Chief Executive Officer of Demaz Media Limited.
