A non-governmental organisation, Mentoring Assistance for Youths and Entrepreneurs Initiative (MAYEIN), has reiterated that a sustainable joint stakeholders’ approach is needed to mentor, educate, and develop girls in Oyo State.
The Acting Executive Director of MAYEIN, Mrs Ewa Orawale, made this known on Thursday in Ibadan while speaking on the organisation’s recent findings from their annual Girls in Education Dialogues (GED) project with about 200 Oyo State schoolgirls in a report titled ‘A report on challenges to girls’ education in Oyo State’.
Orawale noted that the event was in commemoration of this year’s International Day Girl Child, celebrated every October 11, with the theme ‘Girls vision for the future’.
She stressed that MAYEIN believes that education and mentorship are key pathways to achieving the dreams and future of the girl-child ─ hence, the urgent need for decision-makers to incorporate girls’ views into education planning and implementation which will help with enrollment, retention, and completion of girls secondary education in Oyo State.
She revealed that in the course of executing the GED project, they partnered with Oyo State ministries of education, women’s affairs, youths and sports, as well as the Oyo State House of Assembly, public secondary schools, teachers, parents, and community leaders.
According to Orawale, “Many of the girls we engaged with had no knowledge of their rights, lacked confidence and individuality, and could not communicate effectively with the adults in their lives.”
She said they aimed at changing these sad narratives and trends by advocating knowledge and skills shifts, organising dialogues to help girls practice effective communication with adults, and convening formal engagements between schoolgirls and decision-makers.
She advised the government to prioritise inclusive education policy; parents and caregivers to create a supportive home environment that values learning; school providers to prioritise safety and security measures to protect girls from violence, harassment, and discrimination; and civil society organisations (CSOs) to work with communities to raise awareness about the importance of girls’ education and address cultural barriers.
Orawale concluded by stressing that girls experience unique needs and challenges in their schooling and education journeys, which are quite distinct from their male counterparts.
“If Oyo State aims to benefit from the full contribution of girls and women, then the present government and all critical stakeholders must attend to the insights shared in this Girls in Education Dialogues (GED) project report,” she said.
A member of the MAYEIN’s board of trustees, Mrs Ibufemi Ifaturoti, said the organisation decided to focus on Oyo State public schools because they are the most marginalised schools in the state where the most attention and support were needed.
Ifaturoti stated that the theme of this year’s International Day of the Girl highlights the importance of empowering girls to take charge of their future; and that the collective goal is not just to educate the girl-child, but also to ensure that she is equipped with relevant skills and civic preparedness to navigate society and the world.
“We believe that education is the bedrock upon which girls can build their futures, and unlock doors to opportunities that go beyond the classroom, into leadership, innovation, and positive change in their communities,” she said.
Mr Solomon Adewole, youth development practitioner and founder of Opportunity Access, commended the work that MAYEIN and its partners are doing with girls, which he said cuts across different sectors in Oyo State and Nigeria.
Adewole emphasised the need for the government and society to see the need and the importance of investing in the education of the girl-child.
He said quality education, especially for the girl-child, goes beyond what is taught in the classroom. He added that it should include character development, an exemplary way of life, good societal expectations, and other nuance knowledge that can help girls grow into responsible women and leaders.
ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then