BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
PLAN International Thursday in Sokoto state held Project Start Up workshop in, “Accelerating Basic Education and Livelihood Opportunities (ABEP) for Children and Youth in North Western Nigeria”.
Stating the objective of the start up workshop, which is to be implemented in Bodinga, Tambuwal, Gwadabawa and Sokkto North local government areas of Sokoto, the ABEP State Coordinator of the project, Mr Joseph Julius said it’s an European Union funded programme that is to be implemented by partners in Jigawa, Kano and Sokoto states of northwest, Nigeria.
“”The project aims to support education and youth empowerment by providing youth, in particular girls in rural underserved and nomadic communities, with access to inclusive gender transformative and conflict-sensitive equitable quality education and skill development by providing increased access to vocational training, including training for green jobs, and developing critical skills for women and girls, youths and nomads in the 3 states”.
Continuing, Mr Joseph said, the 3 years ABEP “”will increase access to safe, quality and inclusive alternative/accelerated education programmes for 324,000 young girls and boys, including persons with disabilities (PwDs) and support their transition into formal and non formal education.
“”To increase access to livelihood opportunities, vocational education and green Jobs opportunities for 60,000 youths. Advocate for and strengthen the capacities and community stakeholders in peaceful coexistence, safe schools and girls empowerment”.
“”The 3 year ABEP Project will also ensure that out of the 324,000 young boys and girls to benefit from the Accelerated Basic Education Programmes, 32,400 will be persons with disabilities through learning centers and support their transitions from non-formal to formal education.
“”Provide vocational training and employment opportunities in various fields, including green jobs for 60,000 youth out of which 6,000 will be persons with disabilities. And linking of 20,000 trained youths to public, private sector organizations and non-governmental initiatives””.
Continuing on the project brief, Mr Joseph Julius said, “300 facilitators will be trained to create 300 Village Savings and Loan Schemes and 150 safe spaces for girls and young women to support learning of social skills and green jobs opportunities. Train 120 peace club facilitators to integrate peace education into schools curricula and promote conflict resolution and prevention strategies.
While noting that, the project will equally enhance the capacity of 3000 girls, boys and youths to promote and advocate for peaceful coexistence, girls education and empowerment to foster behaviorial change through innovative media approaches and strengthen the capacity of 180 teachers and 720 facilitators for effective delivery of the ABEP national curriculum in Sokoto, Kano and Jigawa States.
“”60 government staff capacity will be strengthen to monitor, manage the use of learner centered, gender responsive inclusive teaching approaches. And also strengthen the capacity of 60 schools, community stakeholders, and security officials, to ensure the implementation of Safe School Declaration (SSD) to promote the safety of schools””.
He further divulged that, the project will be engaging with the Federal and State agencies such as the Ministry of Education, State Agencies for Mass Education (SAME) and State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Nd other governance and community structures to implement these interventions.
Giving background of PLAN International mission, Mr Charles Amiolemen, the People and Culture Officer said in partnership with stakeholders, Plan International is targeting at ensuring that 20 million girls can read and write within the next 5 years.
Continuing, Mr Charles said PLAN International as an humanitarian non profit organization have no religious
