By Sani Idris
In a bid to promote girls' education and empowerment in Northern Nigeria, the Centre for Girls' Education (CGE) has engaged traditional and religious leaders on their bye-in and need to enhance girls' education.
The engagement, was of high-level traditional and religious leaders on pathways to choice-learning to scale AGILE project and discuss, review and validate the CGE life skills curricular for in-school and out-of-school-children.
In her address, Habiba Mohammed, the Director of the CGE, said the centre has been working to improve the lives of adolescent girls across Northern Nigeria for over 18 years.
According to her, the organisation's mission is to ensure that every girl, regardless of her background, has the opportunity to receive education, acquire life skills, and contribute meaningfully to her family, community, and nation.
Mohammed added that the centre has pioneered programmes that provide adolescent girls with safe spaces for learning, mentorship, and personal growth.
"Through initiatives such as the AGILE project and Pathways to Choice - Learning to Scale, CGE has integrated life skills training into education, equipping thousands of girls with knowledge on leadership, financial literacy, reproductive health, and self-advocacy.
"The AGILE project's Life Skills Component is designed to ensure that girls receive an education that is not only academically enriching but also culturally and morally aligned with the values of their communities and religions,"she said.
Mohammed therefore said by engaging traditional and religious leaders, CGE aims to promote education as a religious and cultural duty, reduce early marriage and increase girls' opportunities, strengthen families and communities, and preserve cultural values.
She explained that the CGE is working with traditional and religious leaders in Northern Nigeria because faith, tradition, and community leadership plays defining role in shaping the lives of young people.
"Families turn to traditional rulers for counsel and direction. Religious leaders are seen as the moral and spiritual guides of our society. They hold a position of immense influence and their voice carries the power to inspire action and transformation,"she said.
According to her, education is not just about reading and writing, but instilling values, teaching responsibility, and preparing young people to navigate life with wisdom.
She said the AGILE project's Life Skills Component 2.2a was designed to ensure that girls receive an education that is not only academically enriching but also culturally and morally aligned with the values of our communities and religions.
This, the director said was why the centre worked tirelessly to develop a curriculum that reflects religious and traditional teachings on the importance of education, family responsibilities, and personal development.
She explained that the Pathways to Choice-Learning to Scale project is a research project that would work with out of school girls to enroll and re-enroll them back to school and provide some of them who cannot go back with vocational skills.
Giving an overview of the AGILE project, its Coordinator in Kaduna, Maryam Dangaji, said adolescent girls in Nigeria are generally faced with challenges that prevent them from accessing and completing secondary education due to socio-cultural, financial constraints, and infrastructural deficits.
She therefore, said the AGILE Project is meant to improve secondary education opportunities in the implementing states by tackling the challenges, thus making education more appealing to adolescent girls, parents, communities, and institutions.
One of the religious leader, Dr. Tukur Adam, the Chief Imam of Almanar Mosque, appreciated the efforts of the CGE in promoting girls' education in Northern Nigeria.
He said the organization's engagement with traditional and religious leaders is a step in the right direction.
"We recognize the importance of education in Islam, and it is our duty to ensure that our girls receive an education that is morally and culturally aligned with our values. The CGE's life skills curriculum is a good starting point, but we need to review and validate it to ensure it suits our traditions and religion.
"As a Muslim leader, I believe that education is a fundamental right and a religious duty. The Quran emphasizes the importance of seeking knowledge, and we must ensure that our girls have access to quality education that prepares them for life," he said.
He said the AGILE project's Life Skills Component is a welcome initiative, but needed to ensure that it reflects Islamic values and teachings.
"We must work together to develop a curriculum that promotes moral and cultural values, while also equipping girls with essential life skills.
"I commend the CGE for recognizing the importance of engaging traditional and religious leaders in promoting girls' education. We are willing to work with the organization to ensure that our girls receive an education that is morally and culturally sound.
"Together, we can promote education as a religious and cultural duty, we can strengthen families and communities, and preserve cultural values,"he said.
Similarly, Rev. Aminu Ayyuka, commended the CGE for engaging traditional and religious leaders in promoting girls' education in Northern Nigeria.
He acknowledged the importance of education in Christianity, adding that education should not only be academically enriching but also culturally and morally aligned with the values of the community.
One of the CGE's beneficiary, Amina Yusuf, a native of Dagaci community in Zaria LGA, defied the odds to become a graduate of Biology Education from Ahmadu Bello University.
Born into a family of eight children, Yusuf's journey to education was not without its challenges. Her uncle had initially opposed her education, preferring that she get married at a young age.
However, with the support of the CGE, Yusuf was enrolled in secondary school, and her mother encouraged her to attend regularly. Her father also played a crucial role in supporting her education, resisting pressure from his family to consider alternative options.
Amina's determination and hard work paid off, and she graduated with a degree in Biology Education. She has since become an advocate for girls' education and a staff member of the CGE.
She also mentors young girls in her community, inspiring them to pursue their educational goals.
Amina's achievements have taken her to international platforms, where she has rubbed shoulders with notable dignitaries. She was invited to Oslo, Norway, to receive a diploma in International Development, where she met Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
Amina has also attended UN meetings and conferences in Rwanda, focusing on girls' education and gender inequality.
Today, Amina is a shining example of what girls can achieve with education and determination.
Her story serves as a testament to the impact of organizations like the CGE, which work tirelessly to promote girls' education and empowerment.(NAN)
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