No fewer than 342,000 out-of-school children and youth are set to benefit from a new education and empowerment initiative aimed at transforming basic education access in Northwest Nigeria.
The project, titled Accelerating Basic Education and Livelihood Opportunities for Children and Youth in North-Western Nigeria, is funded by the European Union and implemented by Plan International Nigeria with co-applicants Save the Children International (SCI), Dispute Resolution and Development Initiative (DRDI), and Save the Child Initiative (STCI).
The initiative was officially presented at a one-day state-level summit on safety and security in schools held in Kano, with a strong focus on improving learning conditions and safeguarding vulnerable children.
The intervention targets five LGAs in Kano (Nasarawa, Kumbotso, Gwale, Rimin Gado, and Tudun Wada), three in Jigawa (Babura, Gwaram, and Kafin Hausa), and four in Sokoto (Bodinga, Gwadabawa, Sokoto North, and Tambuwal).
Speaking at the summit, Hussaini Bwala, Education Programme Coordinator for Save the Children, the project aims to increase access to safe, quality, and inclusive alternative and accelerated education for 324,000 children, including persons with disabilities, with the goal of transitioning many into formal or non-formal education pathways.
“The goal of this summit is to improve safety and well-being for out-of-school children, girls, young women, persons with disabilities, and facilitators by creating safer learning environments,” he said.
He also explained that others efforts are training of 300 facilitators to establish 300 village savings and loan associations and 150 safe spaces for girls and young women; 120 peace club facilitators will be trained to integrate peace education into school curricula and 3,000 children and youth will be empowered to advocate for girls’ education and peaceful coexistence through innovative media.
180 teachers and 720 facilitators will be trained on effective delivery of the Accelerated Basic Education Programme (ABEP) curriculum; 60 government staff will be trained in gender-responsive, learner-centered teaching approaches and 60 schools and community groups will be strengthened to implement the Safe School Declaration.
