Kuni Tyessi in Abuja
A group, Feminist Coalition Girls Education Programme, has concluded plans to sponsor girls from low income backgrounds on a scholarship scheme aimed at improving the girl-child enrolment and retention level, especially at the basic level.
The co-founder of the coalition, Ms. Damilola Odufuwa, made this known yesterday in Abuja during a virtual meeting to mark the inauguration of the scholarship project to advance the rights of the girl-child in the area of education.
She quoted the 2014 British Council statistics on the 5.5 million Nigerian girls, who are out of school, and added that there was need to encourage the girl-child on the path of education.
Odufuwa also quoted a figure from the National Population Commission (NPC), which stated that the drop-out rates of girls are higher at the sixth grade of primary school, stating that this must be discouraged at all course.
She said the statistics have also worsened since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, where almost 90 per cent of the world countries shut down their schools at the height of the outbreak in effort to slow down the transmission.
The co-founder said the feminist coalition believes it is every girl’s right to access quality education, and that women’s rights and safety are one of three pillars of work the coalition will be concentrating on.
“Undoubtedly, girls’ education is a space we are committed to working within, for the protection and advancement of Nigerian women’s rights.
“This is why we decided to start the Feminist Coalition Girls Education Programme. An annual full scholarship and mentorship programme for brilliant young girls from low-income backgrounds in Nigeria, whose largest barrier to a quality education is finance.
“In July 2021, we reached out to Teach For Nigeria, a non-profit organisation, committed to ending educational inequity across the country. Teach for Nigeria was integral in selecting the right students for this opportunity.
“Together, we shortlisted 40 students from Ogun State, to participate in an entrance examination. Of the 40 students, the top 20 from the examination were selected for an interview.
“We decided to partner Vivian Fowler Memorial College, Oregun, Lagos, for the girls, one of the leading all-girls schools in Nigeria, known to offer not just academic guidance, but also a balanced education that enables students to cope with life and create fulfilling careers,” Odufuwa said.
She stated that of the 20 students, who were interviewed, 12 were selected for the Feminist Coalition Girls Education Programme, and would be funded throughout their secondary school education at Vivian Fowler Memorial College.
Odufuwa said the girls had since September 11 resumed at Vivian Fowler Memorial College, adding that the scholarship provided by the coalition also covers the boarding house fees, co-curricular activities, examination fees and other.
