Dr Amina Bello, wife of Niger State Governor has called on parents and well-to-individuals in the society to support and encourage girl child education.

She made the called when she presented gifts to top-three winners of the Maiden Spelling Bee Competition on Saturday in Minna.

Newsmen report that the competition was organised by Child Rights Advocacy Guild of Nigeria in collaboration with the state Child Right Protection Agency.

The competition, which started in June and end in July, had 230 pupils participants from 32 selected public schools in Chanchaga Local Government Areas of the state.

The wife of the governor had during the grand finale of the spelling competition pledged to reward those that came 1st, 2nd and 3rd with a laptop and school kits.

Bello, while presenting the items to the winners, called on parents to avail their children especially female ones to acquire formal education.

She said both boys and girls have equal rights to education as one of the most significant stage of their lives.

“Education is a right of every child and best reason a child can grow up to be fully independent and empowered.

“Parents should ensure their children who were not in school go to school especially the girl child who was at disadvantage,” Bello said.

She commended the organisers of the competition for their initiative, adding that continuity of the competition would improve vocabulary among students.

The wife of the governor called on individuals, group and organisation to support the initiative so as to improve academic performance of students across the state.

Mrs Mairam Kolo, Director-General of the state Child Rights Protection Agency, assured that the agency would ensure that the spelling bee was conducted across the 25 Local government areas of the state.

She said that the agency would enforce the rights of children such as right to basic education and right to live without fear.

Earlier, Mr Abubakar Alhaji, Coordinator, Child Rights Advocacy Guild of Nigeria (CRAGON) explained that the essence of the competition was to give children their right as contained in the child right law.

Gifts were presented to Destiny Oere from Limawa Primary School, and Salamatu Usman from Kwasu Primary School and Uchenna Odumegwu, from Waziri Nursery and Primary School Minna.

NAN