Muslims in Nigeria have been urged to embrace the Sultan Foundation as their personal property for the overall development of humanity, irrespective of sectional, tribal, or religious differences.
The Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), His Eminence Alhaji (Dr.) Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar III, made this call during a one-day conference of traditional and religious leaders on the significance of girl-child education in the North Central Zone, held on Tuesday in Minna, the Niger State capital.
Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar explained that the foundation focuses on education and health, among other areas, to bring relief to the less privileged in society, particularly the girl child and orphans.
During the event, the Sultan conferred the Ambassadorial title of “Ambassador of Girl-Child Education for the North Central Zone” on the wife of the Niger State Governor, Hajiya Fatima Umaru Bago, in recognition of her significant contributions and support to orphans and the girl child.
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Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, represented by the Director of Federal Government College Minna, Surajo Dadda’u, emphasized the Federal Government’s awareness of the challenges confronting girl-child education and the urgent need for solutions. He called on traditional and religious leaders, as well as other key stakeholders, to align with the Federal Government’s vision to address these issues.
In his remarks, Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago noted that his administration has developed a deliberate 10-year program to empower the girl child in the state. The program aims to produce 10,000 female graduates in fields such as medicine, nursing, mechanical engineering, and midwifery within the next decade. Additionally, he announced global scholarships for 100 students to study abroad.
Governor Bago highlighted the state’s commitment to matching funds under the Agile program and revealed the procurement of one million computer tablets for distribution to primary, basic, and secondary schools in Niger State. He also emphasized that free internet services have been provided to schools across the state to facilitate faster and more seamless education.
In her acceptance speech, Hajiya Fatima Umaru Bago expressed her dedication to promoting girl-child education wholeheartedly. She credited her late father and Governor Umaru Bago as her inspiration for engaging in humanitarian services and pledged to continue her efforts.
National Coordinator of the Adolescent Girl Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), Mrs. Amina Haeuna, explained that AGILE began in 2021 with an initial $500 million and included seven states. The program is expected to conclude next year, while the additional 11 states will complete their projects by 2028.
The conference was jointly organized by AGILE and the Sultan Foundation.
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