By Halima Adisa
Research by the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has identified a 30 per cent school dropout rate in Kilankwa II community, Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.
Yasmin Salako, CITAD’s Abuja office programme officer, who disclosed this on Saturday, October 24, during a community sensitisation event to mark thid year’s International Day of the Girl Child also raised concerns over poverty, child marriage and barriers to girls’ education.
The event, organised under the Get Lead Action Project with funding support from ActionAid Nigeria, had the theme “End Child Marriage and Invest in the Future of Girls”.
Salako said research involving 12 adolescent girls identified child marriage as one of the major challenges affecting their education.
She attributed early marriage partly to poverty, explaining that some parents marry off their daughters because they cannot afford school fees and other basic needs.
“Some parents resort to early marriage to avoid the stigma associated with teenage pregnancy”.
Salako said the project helps girls identify barriers to education and advocate for solutions. She urged the government to make basic education free or affordable stating that CITAD planned to establish a digital resource centre where girls could access computers and learn coding.
The Community Chief Yahaya Alhassan noted that poverty, insecurity and damaged school buildings also hinder education in the area. “Many families in this community depend on farming but struggle to earn enough to support their children’s schooling”.
Chief Alhassan welcomed the initiative and pledged to continue advising community members against child marriage, which he said limits girls’ opportunities to learn and develop their potential.
Some of the girls also called for action to address barriers to education. Endurance Ishaku urged them to organise and present their concerns to community leaders and relevant authorities, while Ezekiel Blessing called on parents to give girls equal opportunities to attend school.
They however, urged community leaders to establish accessible channels for reporting rape, ensure appropriate punishment for offenders and improve security to protect girls.
A Teacher Frank Taudo, who said he had spent about 20 years in the profession, urged parents to support their daughters’ ambitions and help them pursue education despite financial difficulties.
Some mothers acknowledged the financial pressures families face but urged parents to persevere with their children’s education. ” We have concerns about girls’ behaviour and family reputation, which could influence some parents to arrange early marriages”.
The event which brought together community members and adolescent girls to discuss child marriage, school dropout, teenage pregnancy and sexual violence was to promote girls’ rights as well as encourage community action to keep children in school.
Edited by Julian Osamoto
