By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto
The Sokoto State Arabic and Islamic Board and Ministry of Women and Children. Affairs with support from UNICEF and funding from ELEVA foundation Tuesday commissioned a digital village at the Sultan Maccido Institutes for Qu’ran and General Studies, Sokoto.
The initiative aimed at entrenching policy dialogue to scale digital village for Almajiri and Out of school adolescent girls, will further create employability oppurtunity.
Speaking in his welcome address, the Executive Secretary, Sokoto State Arabic and Islamic Board, Alhaji Ahmad Baba Altine said Sokoto state government provided the building while UNICEF with funding from ELEVA foundation provided all the equipment
“This digital village is the first of it’s kind in the country. Only last week, the governor of Katsina State sent delegation to Sokoto on study tour of why our Almajiri education system is succeeding”.
On their seperate goodwill messages, the state commissioners for Women and Children Affairs, Hajiya Hadiza Shagari, that of Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs, Ibrahim Dadi Adere and that of Justice, Nasir Mohammed Binji appreciated
Also in a goodwill message, UNICEF
Head of Child Protection Mr Ibrahim Sassey, the Chief Of Child Protection, UNICEF, Nigeria affirmed that the intitaive would aid in the transformation of the state and in tune with the government 9 smart point agenda.
Speaking onbehalf of UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Cristian Muntaune, the UNICEF Cheif, Sokoto Field Office, Mr Micheal Juma appreciated Sokoto state government for it’s continued collaboration.
Muntaune who decried that the Almajiri system of education graduates you g adults without formal education nor skills, added that, it is therefore characterized by chronic poverty, social exclusion and abuse.
“Nigeria has about 13.2 million out-of-school children; 69% of them are from Northern Nigeria, with 60% of them being girls. It is important to note that there are an estimated 9.5 million Almajiri across the country, with the highest concentration in the Northern part of the country (Universal Basic Education Commission).
“Today we are all here to launch the first digital village for Almajiri and Out of School Adolescent girls in Sokoto State. This Digital Village and Sills Acquisition centre is a Sokoto state led project which aims to close the digital divide by providing children and young people lacking adequate parental care as well as the surrounding vulnerable communities with meaningful access to digital technology and digital literacy skills to support their education, protection and development needs as well life skills, acquiring skills for empowerment of girls and boys, entrepreneurial training”.
UNICEF also assured of supporting Sokoto State government efforts to ensure that they provide a lifeline for the girls and boys that are outside of family care.
“The Digital and Skilling Village is an investment aimed at proactively addressing child vulnerabilities, building resilience amd unlocking the potential for Almajiri and out-of-school adolescent girls who are often left behind”.
Before commissioning the digital village, Sokoto state governor, Ahmed Aliyu assured his government remained committee to supporting initiatives that will be beneficial to the people of the state inline with his 9 point smart agenda.
