Zulum to enrol 500,000 girls in public schools
Story from Kasim Isa Muhammad
The governor of Borno State, Babagana Umara Zulum, has announced that his administration is actively enrolling thousands of out-of-school girls to admit 500,000 girls into public primary schools across the state.
Zulum said this during a meeting with the United Nations deputy secretary general, Amina Mohammed, and Malala Yousafzai, a renowned advocate for girl-child education and UN peace ambassador.
He emphasises the significance of girl-child education in addressing social and economic challenges in the long term.
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Highlighting that there is a greater number of out-of-school girls in Borno compared to boys, which is why the state government is committed to enrolling girls in schools.
On her part, the UN deputy secretary general, Amina Mohammed said, “We are here (Maiduguri) your Excellency because this is the place where Malala started her efforts in Nigeria to call for girls’ education, the safety of their education and the right to their education, the progress in their future so that they also join the people of their community, their state and Nigeria to be part of their economy.”
Similarly, Neptuneprime learned that Malala Yousafzai visited Nigeria to commemorate the 10th anniversary of her first speech at the UN General Assembly and to celebrate Malala Day, which is observed on her birthday, July 12th, as a tribute to her tireless efforts in championing the rights of children and women.
Malala Yousafzai expressed her optimism regarding the future of girls’ education, emphasizing their determination, dedication, and hope for a better future.
She said, “We need all leaders to invest in the education of the future generation, we need to ensure we are investing in innovative and digital ways to make education more accessible. Education is the foundation of building a strong country, a strong world, giving it a strong economy, peace and stability.”
The meeting in Maiduguri involved the presence of the United Nations resident coordinator in Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, Malala’s father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, and other UN officials.
The governor’s wife, Dr. Falmata Babagana Umara Zulum, also attended the meeting after receiving the delegation at Maiduguri International Airport.
