Girls Ambassadors under the RiseUp Project have pleaded with the Kaduna State Government to have in place a Policy Document on free education for public Secondary Schools to stop drop outs and early marriages among girls in the State .
A delegation of the Ambassadors led by their leader and member of the Nigeria’s Children Parliament, Miss Mary Emmanuel Bawa made the plea in Kaduna during a courtesy visit to the State Commissioner, Ministry for Human Services and Social Development, Hajia Hafsat Mohammed Baba.
Mary who narrated how some of her colleagues could not complete their education or married out by their parents said the parents had already impacted on them that their education was no longer necessary because of poverty.
“We are pleading with the government to have a Policy on ground in order to overcome this wrong impression”,
Arising from the poverty and ignorance, Mary said most of the girls do not come to school during their menstrual period , hence the need for government to consider providing sanitary pads.
She revealed that wrong information were passed to them by parents instead of guiding them to be hygienic as well as sex education .
Mary therefore stressed the need for government to assist in creating awareness against this phenomenon.
Responding, the Commissioner praised her for the concern shown on the education of her colleagues and assured that the government has the political will to implement the policy.
Government, Hajiya Hafsat said would continue to provide infrastructure and payment of salaries to make teachers comfortable .
” Government is investing heavily in education and health which it considers as top priority “.
Hafsat said government would engage community leaders and parents on early marriages and importance of education
She however reminded parents that they have alot of responsibilities of taking care if their children , while government is always there to provide conducive environment.
Hafsat noted with concern that parents have abandoned their responsibility leading the children to be roaming about on the streets.
Earlier, officials of the Africa Media Development Foundation, AMDF implementing the RiseUp project, Sekyen Dadik and Benjamin Yunana Maigari who introduced the girls ambassadors including Sarah Haruna appreciated the efforts of the Commissioner so far in that regard.
