E.U, Jigawa HILWA partner to advocate more women in decision making
The European Union (E.U), has partnered the High Level Women Advocate (HILWA), to advocate for increased women in decision making positions across the education sector in Jigawa.
Mr Muttaka Mukhtar, an education specialist with UNICEF Kano Field Office, disclosed this at a two-day learning visit to Katsina by the Jigawa HILWA officials.
He explained that the Jigawa HILWA was recently established to also facilitate increased enrollment, retention, transition, and completion of school by children, especially the girl child.
Mukhtar revealed that the visit to Katsina by the Jigawa HILWA would enable them to learn from their Katsina counterpart, which had been in existence since 2014.
According to him, members of HILWA are high level women who have reached positions of integrity and authority in the public service, business, academic or politics.
He said: “They are women of proven integrity, who have influence all over, made impact on the society, and are ready and willing to sacrifice their time in the best interest of the girl child.
“We are working with them to see how they can conduct high level advocacy to policy makers and other stakeholders to influence changes in increasing access to decision making positions for women.
“While they are doing that, they also open up opportunities for increasing access to education for all children and also working with the government to improve their quality of learning.”
Speaking, the HILWA Chairperson in Katsina, Hajiya Mariya Abdullahi said prior to the establishment of HILWA, gender equality had made little progress on all fronts, especially in the North from access to education to women in decision making positions.
She pointed out that, “It’s our strong belief that effective participation of women in providing education will be a very critical strategy in girls education programmes.
“When more women participate in influencing decisions on policies and practices in the education sector, learning conditions will be more favourable for girls and even the boys.
“Also, more women in the sector as teachers, head teachers, local government education secretaries will directly and indirectly provide opportunities and encourage more girls to enroll and complete their education.”
According to her, HILWA is a UNICEF-sponsored NGO that advocates for girls’ education at the national, state and local levels, and also women participation in governance.
She pointed out that they also provide advice to help with planning and budgeting to sustain interventions at a larger scale, mentor girls to make informed decisions, take responsibility, and strive for excellence.
Abdullahi stated that HiLWA inspires girls to reach their full potential through dedication, hard work, and also believes that women participation in education is critical to girls’ education programmes.
Responding, Prof. Umma Abdulwahid, the HILWA pioneer Chairperson in Jigawa, said they have learned a lot from the visit to their Katsina colleagues.
According to her, the pioneer members of the group are dedicated and committed to ensuring increased participation of women in education decision making.
She commended UNICEF and other stakeholders for the great opportunity, pledging their best towards promoting education, especially for the girl child.
The exercise was supported by the European Union, through the Education and Youths Empowerment (EYE), a project in the Northwestern Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project is being managed by UNICEF Kano Field Office, and implemented by the state governments.HI
