Girl’s Education: Bauchi Govt Laud UNICEF, Other FCDOs In The State Over Cordial Relationship And Tremendous Success Of The Project

Olabode Adaramola   in Bauchi

Bauchi State Government has expressed it’s appreciation  to UNICEF over the state’s  cordial relationship  with the International Organization/ World body  for it’s support to the State in so many activities, especially in the area of capacity building, adding that the GEP3 Project that came on board in the state in 2012 has recorded a tremendous success in the state while government  had since  reiterated it’s  commitment to sustain the activities of the project even after the project’s close-up, stressing,  that “the incumbent Governor Mohammed Bala- led administration in the State is working assiduously to fulfil the promise that we have made”.

The Commissioner, Ministry of Education, Aliyu Usman Tilde (PhD) stated this while declaring open the  Three- Day Media Dialogue on Girls’ Education by Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board( SUBEB)   in collaboration with UNICEF.

Speaking further Dr. Aliyu Usman Tilde said “The ministry of education has enjoyed a very cordial relationship with UNICEF, who has been supporting the state in so many activities especially where capacity building is involved”, hilighting that, “The GEP 3 Project, that came on board in 2012 has recorded a tremendous successes in the state and the state government had promised to sustain the activities of the project even after the project’s close-out and the government is working to fulfil the promise that we have made.

He noted that the promise that was made was witnessed by the three Premier Traditional rulers in the state, among whom was the  Emir  of Bauchi, Emir of Katagum and the Emir of Missau, emphasizing that this shows that the government is committed to continue with the project even after the close- out.

According to him, “The ministry of education has enjoyed a very cordial relationship with UNICEF, who has been supporting the state in so many activities especially where capacity building is involved. The GEP 3 Project, that came on board in 2012 has recorded a tremendous successes in the state and the state government had promised to sustain the activities of the project even after the project’s close-out”.

He said,  “the state government is working to fulfil the promise that we have made. And the promise that was made was witnessed by the three Premier Traditional rulers in the state and they’re Emir’s of Bauchi, Emir of Katagum and the Emir of Missau. So,this shows that the government is committed to continue with the project even after the close- out”.

 Consequently, he explained that,   “not only that, the impact of the project in the state is huge that in the past, while the number of the out of school  girls that we used to find in our cities had grossly come down now.

Tilde( PhD) however pointed out that though it might not have been completely mitigated, saying,  “a good number of them have been supported and they have gone back to schools,  they are being empowered through enterprenuer activities, so that they can be self- reliant  and they would not be liabilities to any other persons at  homes or  in their matrimonial  houses .

He argued further that some of them are economically empowered and are doing well and enrolments in schools had improved tremendously, while   completion of schools  by the girls has also increased and we have witnessed that  our cities also have witnessed a very good participations of girls in the schools  in the state.

The Comissioner Ministry of Education, Bauchi State Dr. Aliyu Usman Tilde  thereby described the Project as  a very good achievement that GEP 3 education has brought a lot of joy to the people of Bauchi state, stressing  that  for this,”we are very grateful for that and as I told you earlier we are ready to sustain the Project and to keep the project moving after the close- out of the project.

 “But if we are lucky, and they see the reason to extend the project from GEP3 – GEP 4, we would further appreciate that because the impact is there on the ground for everybody to see. We remain grateful to UNICEF, and we hope that this kind of partnership would continue to flourish  between the Bauchi State Government and UNICEF.

“I think with that, I will end my remarks and wish you a successful engagement in Bauchi state and journey mercy while embarking on your journey to return to Niger State. Thank you very much, ” Tilde stated.