Educating the Girl Child: Ocholi O. Ibilola

Right to Education
By now, every one knows that education  is a determinant in building up of  tomorrow’s leaders for a brighter future. Yet, it still seem ollusive for the Nigerian child; especially the ‘girl child’.
Uptil this moment, Girls are still being looked upon as liabilities in some parts of NIgeria. Parents especially the fathers believe that as girl child will not bear his name after getting  married and bearing her husband’s name, or whatever education she acquires will be wasted as she will only end up giving birth and raising children; then educating her is of no use.
Even though education is a basic human right and has been recognised as such in the 1948 adoption of the universal declaration of human rightsn which was before Nigeria’s  independence;  all over the world, children, especially girls, continue to be denied this right.  In Nigeria , Sierra Leone, and many  other African countries, there is a huge  gender gap from the secondary school onwards to tetiary institution.
Even in sedondary school, Girls are continuosly been withdrawn and married off; which results in consistent  lower level of female participation in educational engagement at all levels .
And violence, sexual abuse, rape, domestic abuse, child marriage, incest, pedophilia and discrimination against the Girl child continues unabated. This situation is what is in turn resulting into an increasingly  continious  vicious cycle of poverty, diseases, illiteracy and social vices because education bestows on women a valuable sense of disposition and direction for a lifelong acquisition of knowledge, attitude, and skills.
  “Access to education is a right for every Nigerian child,regardless of the gender, religion or disability ” as stated by the National Policy on Education; but the difference that exists between the enrollment of males and females in all levels of education, and the dropout rate of girls is starring us in the face, and participation in STEM, Sports and many other engagements are lower for girls than boys.
This translates into fewer   women in certain economic fields as well.
We all know that the cultural and religious values we subscribe to are what are cheifly responsible to  the existing gender disparity which exists not only  in education, but in every aspect of our lives. One prominent cultural view is that it is better for the woman to stay at home and learn to  attend to her family, instead of  getting an education. This perharps; explains the fact why more boys participate in getting  formal education than girls.
The question now is: For how long?
Isnt it about time we all stand,  rise up and  erase all forms of gender discrimination and give room for quality education for all especially the girl child?
Isnt it?
Is a Nigerian writer and freelance Journalist

16 COMMENTS

  1. This is a lovely write-up! The girl child has been discriminated against over the years. The society thinks we do not deserve better! It is time to tell the world that we are strong, education is the only way we can be enlightened and we can succeed too.

  2. A sensitive piece. What you need do is make it a campaign because the issues you raised need to be kept constantly on the front burner. And, if you can help it, translated into action. This kind of crusading Journalism cannot afford to be neutral. Well done, Shuga.

  3. A well-written and educative piece. Girl-child education is a socio-economical problem, hence all hands must be on deck to help eradicate this.

  4. What a great write up! Like my Dad used to say “Give me education, and I’ll ask for nothing more”

    Well done Shuga!

  5. When my dad died (who was the breadwinner of the family), my elder sister was forced to stop schooling and they became breadwinners for the family.
    Up till now, I still wonder why the boys education was not interrupted.
    My sister’s story has a HAPPY ending, her introduction to the business world at a young age has helped her to understand how to make money now. Today, she’s one of the richest business women in Nigeria.
    Thank you to Shuga (Ocholi) for this write-up. Nowadays, girls (off all ages) are now doing better in schools, workplace, entertainment world, politics and even households.
    This is probably the best story I’ve read this year.
    I love your article. More grease to your elbow, Mhiz Ocholi a.k.a Igala LOVE princess.

  6. Thank you so much everyone, I’m so grateful, without God, Sheroes.ng and your support, I wouldn’t have been able to write and learn more from your comments. Thank you for commenting on my write up. God bless everyone.

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