By Umar Faruk
In a bid to enhance digital learning and bridge the technology gap in public schools, the Niger State Government has announced plans to deploy one million computers and tablets to all government schools in the state. This initiative, disclosed by Farmer Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, aims to ensure that pupils and students in government schools have access to these gadgets, thereby promoting digital literacy and improving learning outcomes.
The governor made this announcement at a conference on the significance of girls' education in the North Central Geo-political zone, held in Minna. The programme was organized by the Federal Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning & Empowerment (AGILE), the Niger State Ministry of Basic Education, and the Sultan Foundation.
In addition to the deployment of computers and tablets, the state government has also laid fibre optic cables to provide free internet services to public schools and other government institutions. The pilot scheme of this initiative is set to commence in Minna.
The Niger State Government has also reaffirmed its commitment to promoting girls' education, with a 10-year programme that will provide scholarships to 1,000 females every year to study nursing, medicine, and other medical-related courses. The state government has also initiated the call centre project, which will provide opportunities for females to become call operators.
The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alh. Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar, emphasized the importance of traditional and religious leaders in championing and campaigning for girls' education. The Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, represented by the Director in the Ministry, Suraju Darda'u, also highlighted the crucial role of traditional and religious leaders in creating awareness about the importance of educating female children.
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Hadiza Asabe Mohammed, acknowledged the challenges faced by the North Central Geo-political zone, including low literacy rates, gender inequality, and limited access to quality education. However, she expressed hope that the conference would help recognize the importance of education in unlocking the potential of young women.
The Project Coordinator of AGILE, Amina Buba Haruna, explained that the objective of the project is to improve adolescent girls in secondary schools and to see how they can become good role models. She revealed that some policies of the Niger State Government, such as the domestication of child's rights and adoption of the National policy on gender education, were considered in selecting the state as one of the 18 benefitting states.
In their goodwill messages, various stakeholders, including the Chairman of Jama'atu Nasril Islam Niger State, Alh. Dalhatu Aliyu Makaman Nupe, and the State Chairman of Imams Forum, Sheikh Adamu Yakatun, acknowledged the importance of empowering girls through education.
The Sultan of Sokoto presided over the investiture of the Wife of the Niger State Governor, Hajiya Fatima Umaru Bago, as the Ambassador of Girl Child Education in the North Central Zone. Speaking after the investiture, Hajiya Fatima Umaru Bago called for collective effort to break the barriers of girl child education in the country.
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Education