President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday at a UN high-level meeting commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the 4th World Conference on Women declared that Nigeria is witnessing an increase in girls enrollment and retention in schools.
In a video message to the virtual meeting, convened by President of the UN General Assembly 75th session, Volkan Bozkir, in New York, President Buhari attributed the success to the implementation of the Universal Basic Education Programme, Girl Education Project and Safe School Initiatives.
He said the Nigerian Government is vigorously implementing the Universal Basic Education Programme, which enhances girl-child education at the grassroots.
He added that the Girl Education Project has contributed to the marked increase in girls’ enrolment and retention in schools as well as guaranteed full productive capacity for future generations of women.
The President in a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity Femi Adesina, noted with satisfaction that through the Safe School programmes, his administration had ensured improved security through the provision of necessary learning materials for educational institutions.
On combating gender-based violence, the Nigerian President said that awareness on a Sex Offenders Register was on-going to discourage and better manage cases of violence against women.
To mitigate the socio-economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic, President Buhari disclosed that Nigeria prioritized vulnerable groups, including women, in the provision of medical and social assistance.
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President Buhari urged Member States to develop additional strategies to improve the quality of life for women and girls, pledging that Nigeria would redouble efforts to improve access to productive resources for women and girls and also ensure the protection of fundamental rights.
The President also used the occasion to congratulate Member States on the giant strides achieved in the implementation of the outcome of the 4th World Conference on Women over the last two decades.
He noted that the twelve areas of critical concern identified in the Beijing Platform of Action, 25 years ago, have been instrumental in the progress so far recorded in advancing issues of women and girls globally.
He, however, stressed that sustainable development would remain impossible if women and girls are denied human rights.
Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu
