UNICEF Advocates Equal Opportunities for Girls to Access Education

By Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

As Africa celebrates the Day of the African Child Saturday, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education and State Universal Basic Education Boards in Bauchi, Niger, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara States, launched the Girls for Girls (G4G) initiative with the aim of creating equal opportunities for girls to access education.
A press release signed by Samuel Kaalu, Communication Officer (Media & External Relations), Bauchi Field Office in Bauchi Saturday, quoted Dr Abdulai Kaikai, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, as saying that the G4G is also meant to empower girls with information and knowledge to help build their capacity to stand up for themselves.

Saturday, 17th June is the Day of the African Child (DAC), a day set aside by the African Union (AU) to focus special attention on children.

The theme for this year’s DAC as given by the AU is ‘The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for Children in Africa: Accelerating Protection, Empowerment and Equal Opportunity’.

According to Kaikai, the theme is very apt and timely as it aligns not just with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but also with the work of UNICEF – the UN agency for the promotion, protection and the realisation of the rights of children.

Details later…