Over 4m girls out of school in Nigeria – Minister

BY VICTORIA OJEME

ABUJA – Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina has declared that over 4 million girls of school age are not in school in Nigeria.

The minister made this declaration weekend during an advocacy visit to states in the North East as part of a nationwide campaign.

Hajia Maina said, “rapid progress in girl’s enrolment, retention and completion will have to double as it is now, if Nigeria is to meet the Millennium Development Goals of achieving gender parity in education by 2015 and improve their participation in the socio-economic and political development of the nation.

She said the need for improved quality education and equal opportunities for both women and men in terms of access is essential to ensure that women of all ages acquire knowledge, capacities, aptitudes, skills and ethical values needed to develop and participate in national development.

The Minister explained that the term “gender equality does not mean women behaving like men but rather women being given the same rights and privileges, to achieve their full potentials as women”.