Traditional rulers, educationists, students, legislators and civil society organisations in Gombe State have raised concern over the widespread engagement of school-aged girls in farm labour, locally known as “barema”, warning that the practice is undermining girls’ education and exposing them to exploitation and danger.
The Guardian learnt that during the rainy season, many girls roam the streets in search of farm work for meagre pay.

The concerns were expressed at a summit organised by the Adda Girl Education Foundation in partnership with the Development Exchange Centre (DEC), with funding support from Bread for the World, Germany.

Programme Coordinator of the foundation, Mr Abubakar Abdullahi Hussein, said the event was part of the Girls Lead Advocacy Project (GLAP), which aims to reduce the prevalence of barema in the state.

He explained that the summit would train girls from selected communities, including Malam Jamo and Gama Dadi in Akko Local Council, on gender-based violence, communication and advocacy skills. According to him, the initiative would also provide mentoring opportunities for girls involved in farm labour to share their experiences and needs.

Abdullahi urged parents to change their mindset and prioritise the education of the girl-child. He highlighted risks associated with the practice, including snake bites, scorpion stings, fatigue and drug abuse, adding that it exposes girls to sexual assault by co-workers, farm owners and youths in nearby communities.

He called on the government to sanction parents who deny their daughters access to education.

Director of Child Development at the Gombe State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Ladi Lawan, described barema as a form of gender-based violence with serious consequences for girls, particularly in education and personal safety.

Chairman of the Gombe State House of Assembly Committee on Women Affairs and Special Duties, Mr Gabriel Galadima, said the Assembly had enacted laws, including the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law and the Child Rights Act, which were assented to by the governor to safeguard children from abuse and exploitation.

However, Chairman of the Gombe State Network of Civil Society Organisations (GONNET), Mr Ibrahim Yusuf, decried weak implementation of the laws, noting that inadequate oversight has hindered full enforcement despite gubernatorial assent.

A student of Government Comprehensive Day Secondary School, Akko, Aisha Bello Adamu, said the summit would encourage girls to sensitise their peers about the dangers of barema. She noted that girls engaged in the labour typically earn between N1,500 and N2,000 for working from morning until night on farms, describing the practice as a threat to their future.