Dr. Amina Bello, the wife of the Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, 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.
The competition was organised by Child Rights Advocacy Guild of Nigeria in collaboration with the Niger State Child Right Protection Agency.
The competition, which started in June and ended in July, had 230 pupils participants from 32 selected public schools in Chanchaga Local Government Area of the state.
The wife of the governor had during the grand finale of the spelling competition pledged to reward those who came first, second and third with a laptop and school kits.
Bello, while presenting the items to the winners, called on parents to avail their children, especially female ones, formal education.
She said both boys and girls have equal rights to education as one of the most significant stage of their lives.
She said: “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 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, groups and organisations to support the initiative so as to improve academic performance of students across the state.
Mariam Kolo, the 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.
Kolo said the agency would enforce the rights of children such as right to basic education and right to live without fear.
Earlier, Abubakar Alhaji, the Coordinator, Child Rights Advocacy Guild of Nigeria, 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 in Minna.
Post A Comment: