The Inclusion Project (TIP) in partnership with Malala Fund has empowered community leaders in Imo State under its Community Education Watchdog Committee (CEWC) on sexual and gender-based violence and educational rights.

The programme was geared towards preparing Imo community leaders as advocates for their girl-child education, and also equip them to engage the new government to prioritise girls’ education.

TIP programme manager, Owerri, Precious Osogwu, in a statement, noted that the CEWC was set up to support communities in promoting the educational rights of the child by ensuring that no child is allowed to miss school without any reason.

The group also noted that equitable access to quality education, particularly for girls, and educating the communities about the educational rights of the girl child can reduce conflict, insecurity, early marriage, and social injustice, leading to a healthier, wealthier, and happier population.

Director, TIP, Pamela Okoroigwe said: “There are over 20 million children in Nigeria who are unable to access free and quality basic education in Nigeria despite the free and compulsory education policy in the many states.

“The girl-child constitutes a higher percentage of this figure. Crisis, insecurity, family poverty, cultural, and poor funding have been limiting factors to quality education in Imo State.

“Young girls and young women in these communities are also faced with different barriers to accessing education, including insecurity, cultural beliefs, child marriage, poverty, school-related sexual and gender-based violence, and lack of feminine hygiene.”