- Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, reaffirms Islam’s support for girl-child education during the AGILE project event in Bauchi
- The Sultan urges northern governors to prioritize education funding, addressing barriers to female education and promoting school attendance for girls
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has reaffirmed that Islam fully supports the education of the girl-child.
He made this assertion on Thursday in Bauchi during the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project, an event organized by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the World Bank.
Themed “Overcoming Social and Cultural Norms on Girl Education in the North East Zone: Roles of Traditional and Religious Leaders,” the event addressed barriers to female education in the region.
The Sultan emphasized, “Islam is not against the education of the girl-child. The issue lies in how we educate and enlighten our people about its importance. Educating the girl-child is essential because it enables her to contribute positively to her family, community, and society at large.”
Reflecting on his journey to Bauchi, the Sultan mentioned seeing children hawking on the streets and noted the need to address the circumstances that hinder school attendance.
He urged northern governors to prioritize adequate funding for education to bridge the gaps in access for girls and other children in the region.
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State also highlighted his administration’s efforts in improving female education. Since assuming office in 2019, the governor said, over 5,000 classroom blocks have been constructed, and many others renovated.
He acknowledged the critical role of traditional and religious leaders in driving school enrollment and retention, especially for girls.
The AGILE project seeks to empower adolescent girls by addressing social and cultural barriers to their education, aiming for a more inclusive and equitable future in the North East.
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