By Lazarus Zakaa, Abuja
The Arewa House Centre for Historical Documentation and Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, have agreed to work together to further the interest of the Girl-Child in Nigeria.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen said this when a team of researchers from the Research Institute led by Dr. Salmon Salami paid a courtesy visit to her office in Abuja.
Dame Pauline Tallen said that the project is aimed at bringing to the fore the challenges and situations of the Girl-Child and engage key stakeholders to proffer solutions to address issues concerning the girl-child.
The Minister said that steps taken to concretize the partnership include; the nomination of two focal officers, from both the ministry and the institute to kick start the project.
She said that a draft memorandum of understanding and sensitization messages are on the drawing board.
Dame Pauline Tallen said that contact have been made with the Kebbi State Governor and the Director General, Universal Basic Education Commission for their buy-in and support of the project.
Other areas that have been covered for the girl-child project include; identification of the programmes, target groups and the media organizations to be used in ventilating information on the project.
Earlier the leader of the team from Zaria, Dr. Salmo Salami said that the team of researchers have come to carve a working relationship between his organization and the ministry on girl-child education.
Professor Salmon Salami said that research has shown that girl child education in Nigeria, particularly in Northern Nigeria is on the decline.
Because of this, the Arewa House Centre for Historical documentation has taken the bull by the horn in order to reverse the ugly decent so that girl-child education can take its proper place as a tool for national development, Prof. Salmon salami said.