Niger: NGO visits IDPs camp, advocates girl-child education

High Level Women Advocacy (HiLWA), has over the weekend visited the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp to assess the living conditions and education of the girl-child in the camp.

President of HiLWA in Niger State, Hajiya Hassana Adamu, led a delegation to the IDPs camp at Central Primary School, Gwada, in Shiroro Local Government Area of the state.

HILWA is a non-governmental organisation that sensitise rural communities on the importance of girl-child education.

Adamu explained that the visit was to assess the living standards and education of out-of-school children, particularly the female ones.

Adamu said, “HiLWA’s focus is on promoting girl-child education, and the organisation expresses concern over the lack of guidance and counselling for the girls”.

She also observed that the girls in the IDPs camp were not exposed to the importance of education, hilighting that HILWA would take the issue up with the Chairman Niger State Universal Basic Education(NSUBEB).

“Although we sensitised the girls on the benefits of education, there is need for alternative location for the IDPs instead of the school premises,” she added.

She stated further that the organisation also plans to advocate for the provision of guidance and counsellors to educate the girls on the importance of education.

The Head Mistress of Central Primary School, Gwada, Mrs. Justina Barde, informed the delegation that the IDPs presence in the school premises was affecting the education of pupils.

She also hilighted the accommodation challenges, noting that six families, including males and females, live in a single classroom, posing a danger to the female children.

Some of the girls who spoke, Rita Iliya and Jennifer Nehemiah, expressed their desire to become medical doctor and a tailor, respectively, despite their irregular attendance at school.

The organisation presented items, including cartons of biscuits, detergents, soap, and bags of pure water, to the IDPs.

The delegation included female Permanent Secretaries, officials from the Adolescent Girls’ Child Education (AGILE), and the Niger state Child Rights Agency.