The Executive Secretary of Zamfara Female Education Board, Dr. Barira Ibrahim, has expressed concern over the attitude of some parents who took advantage of the closure of schools to marry out their daughters.
Ibrahim stated this during an interactive session on Inclusion of Life Skills into Schools Plans, organised by UNICEF on Wednesday in Gusau.
She said her office had received complaints and information that some parents in the state were using the COVID-19 induced schools closure to marry out their daughters.
“We are still waiting for the schools to reopen so that we can verify through our registers and ascertain the number of students who have returned to school and those who have not.
“In the meantime, we have embarked on an awareness campaign, especially on such parents through one-on-one discussions and radio programmes to draw the attention of members of the public to this act,” she said.
She said that part of the campaign was to also sensitise those affected that since marriage would not hinder schooling, they should agree with the prospective husbands to allow the new wives to complete their schools even after the marriage.
Also, the UNICEF consultant at the session, Dr. Wasila Saulawa, noted that the fund would always consult with religious leaders in carrying out its programmes and would not violate the religious values of the community.
Saulawa said the programme aims to develop life skills for upcoming generations to be self-reliant, reduce high expectations and dependency on white-collar jobs or government employment.
Our Correspondent reports that the meeting was attended by stakeholders in the education sector of the state.
