Musa Na Allah, Sokoto
In a significant stride toward uplifting girl-child education and empowerment, the Sokoto State School Based Management Committees (SBMC) have commended UNICEF for the successful implementation of the Resilience, Education, and Advancement in Child Health (REACH) Project.
The initiative has empowered over 19,455 adolescent girls across six local government areas in the state.
UNICEF Nigeria’s Adolescent Development Specialist, Ngozi Izuora Songa on Thursday in Bodinga town revealed that the project has brought remarkable progress in girls’ education.
She stated that 14,607 girls graduated from Primary 6 during the last academic session, marking a milestone in educational advancement in the region.
“The REACH Project has not only provided life-changing handcraft skills but has also reintegrated thousands of out-of-school girls and improved academic retention across beneficiary communities,” Songa noted.
The project currently operates in six LGAs Bodinga, Goronyo, Dange/Shuni, Sabon Birni, Sokoto North, and Sokoto South where its impact continues to resonate deeply among parents, school authorities, and the local leadership.
Hon. Buda Abubakar Amanawa, Chairman of the SBMC in Dange/Shuni and Special Adviser to the Governor on Industrial Development, described the project as a game changer.
“The REACH initiative has transformed the lives of our adolescent girls through skills training and vocational empowerment, boosting economic activity and school enrollment in our communities,” he said.
Amanawa urged caregivers who have not yet enrolled their children to act swiftly. “Investing in education and vocational skills is investing in the future.
The ripple effects on families and society at large are immeasurable,” he emphasized.
At Waziri Model Primary School in Sokoto, SBMC Chairman Ibrahim Bello Kofar Rini praised the G40 component of the REACH framework.
He explained that it has instilled essential life skills, hygiene education, and a culture of punctuality and discipline among students.
In a bid to expand the initiative, the school recently introduced a three-month skills acquisition program for pupils in Primary 4 to 6. The training includes tailoring, knitting, bag-making, and pomade production, while still targeting the reintegration of out-of-school girls.
Kofar Rini also acknowledged the invaluable support of the community, singling out philanthropist Alhaji Babangida Waziri, whose generous interventions have led to major renovations and the installation of solar power in the school’s computer laboratory.
Beyond classroom learning, the SBMC has embarked on a house-to-house biodata census to assess and support the educational, health, and vocational needs of children especially girls ensuring no child is left behind.
However, infrastructure remains a major concern.
Kofar Rini raised the alarm over the dire lack of amenities, citing that over 10,000 pupils depend on a single toilet and a non-functional borehole.
He issued a passionate plea to both the state government and UNICEF for urgent intervention.
Despite these challenges, he expressed optimism about the future of education in the state, attributing recent successes to strong community ownership and continued partnership with UNICEF.
The REACH Project stands today not just as a program, but as a beacon of hope, proving that with the right investment in education and empowerment, the lives of young girls and indeed entire communities can be transformed for generations to come.
