‘Five million girls out of school in Nigeria due to discrimination’

No fewer than five million girl child are out of school in Nigeria as a result of discriminations against girl children on a daily basis, the Country Manager of Girl Rising Nigeria, Maryam Tafida Bello has said.

At the celebration of International Day of the Girl Child organized by Girl Rising Nigeria in partnership with Intel, Maryam said the event was an avenue for girls in Kano and beyond to realize that they could achieve their dreams.

“There are over five million girls out of school in Nigeria and most of these girls are in the northern part of the country. We cannot sit back and watch; we must do something. We must take the baton to lead the fight in ensuring that all girls, all children are educated. That is why we are here today”, Maryam stated.

She further encouraged people to bring meaningful change to Kano and the world by empowering girls through education.

This year’s theme of the International Day of the Girl Child is: “Girls’ Progress – Goals’ Progress: What Counts for Girls” which is focused at encouraging girls to see education as a ‘Must have’ with a goal to highlight the role of technology and the Internet as essential tools needed for leveraging all aspects of human endeavor in the current competitive dispensation.

Also speaking the Corporate Affairs Manager, Intel Corporation, Babatunde Akinola said Intel is making efforts in several ways to encourage women and young girls to be technologically motivated, especially through the Company’s ‘She Will Connect’ initiative.

He added: “Women do 60 per cent of world’s work, produce 50 per cent of food, and yet earn 10 per cent of income and own only one per cent asset”, Intel will continue to work with NGOs and other well-meaning organisations under the She Will Connect umbrella to enable, empower and connect girls and women to opportunities and consequently put an end to such gender gap”.

Speaking about the partnership with Girl Rising Nigeria, Akinola reiterated Intel’s commitment to the development of the girl child.