Bauchi State Government has called for more support from UNESCO and other international agencies in its efforts to see to the growth and development of women and girls in the area of literacy impact.
The call was made by the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Child Development, Hajiya Hajara Gidado on the closure of UNESCO activities in the State held at the Command Guest House, Bauchi on Wednesday.
Represented by the Overseeing Permanent Secretary, Mohammed Aliyu Ibrahim the Commissioner said that, “I would like to specially welcome the delegation of UNESCO to Bauchi State” .
The Commissioner explained that the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development as partners in progress and a coordinating platform of any programmes aimed at improving the quality of lives of women, children and vulnerable groups on a sustainable bases, on this regard, the Ministry usually align itself with any donor organization whether international or local with a zeal to promote the socio-economic development of women population in the state”.
She stressed that, “It is gratifying to note that, quite a number of developmental activities were carried out by UNESCO through Atta Sisters Helping Hand (ASHH) Foundation and have recorded a huge success”.
Among the successes recorded include: Training of multi-sectoral staff on how to render a psycho-social support; Women empowerment on various skills; Addressing sexual and gender based violence therapy
Others include Psycho-social support to victims of sexual and gender based violence Session SGBV/GBY; Construction of temporary shed for conducting section for SGBV and Support to vulnerable groups.
She stressed that Bauchi will remain grateful being considered as one of the benefiting states saying, “the land mark achievement brought about UNESCO will remain indelible and I want to use this opportunity and assure you the foot print of the collective energy is going to be maintained for sustainability” .
Hajara Gidado also commended the present administration under the leadership of Governor Bala Moh’d Abdulkair for continuing support and provision of the enabling environment for such developmental programmes for the benefit of vulnerable population in the state.
“I will like at this juncture to call for more interventions from your organization UNESCO to Bauchi State and be rest assured of our continue collaboration and maximum cooperation any other time you are around”, She appealed.
In her goodwill message, Executive Director of Atta Sisters Helping Hand (ASHH) Foundation, Ms Comfort Attah commended UNESCO in collaboration with Japanese government for the program which she said has really assisted in improving literacy among the rural women and girls.
Comfort Attah also said that her ASHH Foundation was one of the NGOs used for the implementation of the programme which she said was a huge success considering the number of women who started and ended the program very well.
The ASHH Foundation ED then assured that her Foundation will continue to partner all international donor agencies in the efforts to grow and develop women and girls particularly those in the rural communities in the state.
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