From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government has flagged off the distribution of livelihood support items to 800 adolescent girls from seven local government areas of the State.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony Monday, the State Governor, Senator Uba Sani said the event was part of the 2024 Children’s Day celebrations and commemoration of his one year in office.
He was supported by the United Nations Intervention Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF.)
According to him, the transformative initiative will benefit approximately 800 adolescent girls from Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Chikun, Igabi, Sabon Gari, Jema’a, and Zaria Local Government Areas.
The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe Sabuwa said the young women, who are currently out of school, will receive essential items including bakery machines, spaghetti-making machines, blenders, mixers, and make-up kits.
He added that the tools are not just items but opportunities, enabling them to acquire skills and create sustainable livelihoods.
Gov Sani said that his administration is deeply committed to addressing the issue of out-of-school children.
“In collaboration with the World Bank Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), we are set to build approximately 100 schools across the state by 2025.”
“Many of these schools have already been commissioned, with several others inaugurated as part of our one-year celebration. This initiative is a testament to our dedication to ensuring that every child has access to quality education and a brighter future.”
“Moreover, we are proud of our partnership with Google.Org, which aims to train around 5,000 women and girls in cutting-edge IT fields such as artificial intelligence and data science.”
“This training will equip them with digital technology skills crucial for innovative business applications. Such forward-thinking initiatives have garnered His Excellency, Governor Sani, the prestigious 2023 Digital Governor of the Year award by the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS.)”
“In furtherance of our vision to empower our youth, we have initiated a partnership with the Qatar Charity Foundation and Qatar Sanabil Foundation to build an economic city at the Millennium City.”
“This city will be dedicated to nurturing entrepreneurs and boosting global trade. Additionally, we plan to train 400 skilled youths quarterly across 19 vocations, including Microsoft and CISCO certifications, in the three designated zones.”
“This initiative, which includes the construction of a skill acquisition center at Igabi LGA, will also benefit our girls, ensuring they are not left behind in the journey towards economic independence.”
“Today’s event is not just about distributing items: it is about fostering hope, resilience, and self-sufficiency among our young girls.”
“It reflects our administration’s belief that when we invest in the girl-child, we invest in the future of our state and our nation.”
“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all our partners, stakeholders, and everyone who has contributed to making this event a success.”
To the beneficiaries, I encourage you to take full advantage of these opportunities. Use these tools to build a better future for yourselves and your communities.”
” Remember, you are the architects of your destiny, and with hard work, dedication, and taking advantage of support like this one, there is no limit to what you can achieve”
The Commissioner of Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, disclosed that the adolescent girls were enrolled in formal education from November 2023 to January 2024.
She stressed that the Ministry benefited from this empowerment in collaboration with the UNICEF Child Protection Unit.
According to her, It is essential to provide adolescent girls with special care and love and, the opportunity to grow toward actualizing their full potential.
In his remarks, the Representative of UNICEF, Kaduna State, Dr. Winifred Mamman said “Today, being a great day, is a date set aside to celebrate Children, and we are using this day to celebrate our collaboration with this great State, Kaduna, in terms of Child protection.”
“We have done a lot, and what we are doing today is another way of demonstrating the impact of Children, especially Adolescent girls who are out of school.”
“We have seen the reality in Kaduna State today. The reality is that some parents are not able to support their Children and that a lot of Children are on the Street begging, as almajiri, and many girls are also forced into early marriages with many school dropouts.”
“Despite the great work we are doing, we continue to encounter this challenge. What we are doing today is to work with the State government, to find a way out of this issue.”
“The project is called: Children on the Street, including Adolescent Girls, and the empowerment is focused on how we can engage these children to become successful so that they will have a voice that the girls will have a voice and not be forced into marriage and also be able to support their families.”
“We are here to encourage these girls and education is the foundation for success. We must stress the need for them to be educated.”
“Education is not only when they go to school but also when they are empowered through skill acquisition.”
