By Rauf Oyewole, Bauchi
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, have trained 40 women on basic education to reduce the level of illiteracy.
During a one-day workshop for women on Thursday, the organisation expressed gratitude to their husbands for granting them permission to seek further knowledge.
The workshop was to build the capacity of women and accelerate more enrollment of Bauchi women in acquiring basic education, in line with the International Women’s Day celebration in Bauchi with the theme “Invest in Women.”
The workshop was also in partnership with the Office of the First Lady, State Universal Education Board, and Bauchi State Agency for Mass Education (BASAME).
A participant, Juliana Akinlapa said that without the support of her husband, she could not have been able to participate at the workshop, adding that she has also enrolled in one of the informal learning centres for Adult Education in the State.
“Until now, I only had a secondary school certificate, but my husband encouraged me to enroll in one of the informal learning centres for women Adult Education and I have gained a lot from it. Now I can help my children with their assignments at home. This is not the only training I have attended, I have attended several others too,” she added.
Another beneficiary, Asamu Aliyu Idris commended the organisers for the training. The mother of four said she was unable to continue with her education after her secondary school due to financial difficulties.
The Chairperson of NAWOJ, Mrs Rasheeda Yusuf, emphasised the crucial roles women play in nation-building, stressing the importance of establishing informal learning centers to address women’s educational needs.
Yusuf advocated for grassroots reporting on women-related issues to highlight success stories and recognise outstanding women in different communities.
Speaking further, she announced plans for the 2024 International Women’s Day event aimed at inspiring women to pursue basic literacy, with efforts underway to identify and support women interested in education across various learning centres in the state.