The National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), have engaged religious leaders from Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states on their roles in promoting child survival and development.
The one day sensitisation workshop, held in Kano, is aimed at strengthening the capacity of religious leaders to use faith-based platforms to address issues including out-of-school children, vaccination, birth registration, girls’ education and access to healthcare.
Speaking at the workshop, Chief of UNICEF Kano Field Office, Shafeeq Ur- Rehman said faith leaders have a significant role to play in addressing challenges affecting children and vulnerable communities.
He said the partnership between religious leaders and development organisations is important in addressing social issues affecting communities.
The Chief Imam of Dawakin Kudu, Umar Tijjani said cultural practices and ignorance remained among the factors contributing to the number of children out of school.
Also speaking, Reverend Adeyomu Adeyo said some parents still denied their daughters access to education because of the belief that girls would eventually get married.
The workshop brought together Muslim and Christian religious leaders from Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, with participants expected to use their religious and community platforms to promote the messages contained in the revised Faith for Life document.
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(Editor: Roluke Ogundele)
