In an important initiative to promote girl child education in Nigeria, the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) is launching the Girl Child Education Volunteer Advocates (GICEVA) initiative.
The ground-breaking program will be unveiled at the International Conference on the Education of the Girl Child, scheduled to be held on October 10-11, 2024 at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The GICEVA initiative aims to mobilize volunteers through the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Community Development Services (CDS) groups.
Volunteers will play a key role in promoting enrollment of girls in local governments across Nigeria.
In a statement, Dr. Ebenezer Leo, NGF’s Director of Education, emphasized the importance of this initiative.
“By engaging youth group members, we aim to build a broader network of supporters who can drive change at the community level.”
The two-day conference, themed ‘Empowering the Girl Child through Quality Education’, will serve as a platform to officially launch GICEVA.
The event will also include the announcement of the Face of the Girl Child Ambassadors, a program that celebrates the academic excellence of female graduates and empowers them to become champions for girls’ education in their states.
Key aspects of the GICEVA initiative include: Mobilizing volunteers: Engage NYSC members and CDS groups to promote girl child education.
Others include advocacy training. This provides volunteers with the skills they need to effectively advocate for a cause.
Community Outreach: Focuses on increasing girl child enrollment in local governments across Nigeria.
Collaborate with stakeholders: Work with school commissioners, development partners, and donor agencies to create a comprehensive approach to girls’ education.
At the NGF meeting, state education commissioners will also sign a declaration affirming their commitment to support and fund girls’ education up to the high school level.
The declaration was developed in collaboration with global organizations dedicated to promoting girls’ education and represents a united front to tackle educational inequality.
“Through GICEVA and other initiatives, we are not just talking about change, we are actively creating change,” said Dr. Leo.
“We believe that by empowering volunteers and building a network of supporters, we can significantly increase the enrollment and retention of girls in schools across Nigeria.”
