The United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) says the Chibok girls’ abduction over a year ago in Borno State, north-east Nigeria, have now motivated parents to send their girls to school.
The country representative of the UNFPA, Ratidzai Ndhlovu, said several communities in the troubled region ‘no longer fear kidnappings by the Boko Haram sect’ to advance the struggle for girls’ education.
States in northern Nigeria have the country’s worst girl child education and health risks.
The latest scorecard by the UNFPA showed high female illiteracy, highest adolescent girl marriage, under 15 child bearing as well as risk of maternal death.
‘Billed For Marriage’
Several communities in the troubled north-east are aware of this crisis point, that is why they embrace the UNFPA drive for girl child education.
The Boko Haram crisis only worsened an already desperate situation in the north-east. Over five years of Boko Haram attacks have severely hampered access to education in the region but that could steadily change through interventions.
According to the UNFPA, the drive for education has increased among parents and young girls in the region.
Sakina is only 18 and is billed for marriage in months but her parents are determined for her to continue her education beyond secondary school.
Some of the girls in the region now carry with them memories of their parents or relatives which make them determined more than ever to complete their education with greater assistance from the government.
