In a bid to enhance the girl-child education in Nigeria, the Senate on Wednesday urged the federal government to facilitate the completion and hand over of Junior Girls Model Secondary School Odu-Okpiyegede in Dekina LGA to Kogi state govt.
In a motion titled: “Urgent need for the completion of the Junior Girls Model Secondary School Odu-Okpiyegede in Dekina LGA of Kogi state, sponsor of the motion, Senator Isah. Jibrin (Kogi East) cited a World Bank report which revealed female adult literacy rate for Nigeria at 59.4 percent in comparison to the male adult literacy rate of 74.4 percent.
He noted “the fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing China in 1995, also identified the persistent discrimination against the girl-child and the violation of her rights as one of the 12 critical areas of concern and requiring urgent attention by the government and the international community”.
Consequently, the lawmaker observed that “closing the gap in education and ensuring that more girls are educated is essential, not only for building a just society but also a pre-requisite for sustainable development”.
Specifically, he recalled that in view of the importance of girl-child education, the federal government in September 2014, commenced the process of establishing the Junior Girls Model Secondary School Odu-Okpiyegede in Dekina LGA in Kogi state.
He further recalled “the contract for the construction works was awarded to LAMCO Nigeria Limited through the Kogi state office of the Sustainable Development Goals, saying the construction work was completed in June 2016”.
Senator Jibrin however bemoaned that despite the efforts of the federal government no attempt has been made since 2016 to ensure commencement of academic activities.
He explained that some of the existing structures and facilities have started dilapidating.
To this end, the lawmaker urged the federal government to complete the project and ensure take-off of academic activities of the school, stressing that it will boost the chances of girl-child in accessing education in the area.
Meanwhile, the Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan at the plenary on Wednesday mandated the Senate committees on basic and secondary education to work with the Senate committtee on appropriation to make provision for the school in the 2023 budget.
