From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero on Monday, campaigned strongly for the sustainability of the gains of Girls’ Education Project (GEP) 3 project in Kano, while commending the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), for capturing over 177,300 children, including 82,800 girls who are currently benefiting from interventions in focus schools (primary and IQS), through the project.
The Emir who spoke in his Palace, while receiving UNICEF Certificate of Appointment towards Sustainability and Community Accountability on GEP 3 in Kano state, promised to use his position as the Chairman of Kano Emir in Council to mobilize traditional institutions and also advise governmemt ministeries, agencies and parastatals towards supporting and sustaining the GEP 3 initiative across the five Emirates in Kano.
The UNICEF Chief of Field Office in Kano, Maulid Warfa, told the Royal Father that the agency is expecting the Emirate Council to play a major role in ensuring that the high yielding GEP 3 interventions is maintained across the state.
He also appealed for the sustainability and community accountability commitment to GEP’s interventions’ sheets in all concerned ministeries and government agencies.
According to him, the goal of the GEP 3 which started in 2012 is to send one million girls to school in Nigeria, adding that the project is implemented in Kano, Katsina, Bauchi, Niger, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
“The project is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the UK – formerly the DFID, in collaboration with the respective, benefiting state governments.
“The project comes to an end on 30 June 2021, and the sustainability commitment by the traditional leaders in the 6 project states is to ensure that the achievements of the project are sustained,” Warfa stated.
The AUTHORITY reports that GEP 3 project in Kano which is expected to end by June 30, 2021 is designed to among other things target 177,300 children (82,800 girls) benefiting from interventions in focus schools (primary and IQS).
The project has also improved girls’ survival rate to Grade 5 to 80 per cent, trained and mentored 840 integrated Qur’anic school (IQS) facilitators in child-centered pedagogy.
GEP 3 project has also ensured that80 per cent of schools (out of 300 primary schools and 420 IQS) have functioning School Based Management Committees (SBMCs) and Centre Based Management Committees (CBMCs).
GEP 3 also carried out reliable and validated Annual School Censuses to provide data for sector planning and for targeting resources towards girls’ basic education.
More so, with the GEP 3 project,approximately 81, 162 additional girls are enrolled into school (primary and integrated Qur’anic schools).
