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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012
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•Senator Muhammed
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N100,000 for skill trainees in FCT
O fewer than 473 persons have graduated from a skill acquisition training programme in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. They were also given N100,000 each as take-off grant to start up their businesses. Among them were 137 ex-commercial sex workers who were rehabilitated and trained in skills for three months at the FCT rehabilitation centre after the Territory administration announced a clampdown on the activities of commer-
From Kehinde Ore, Abuja
cial sex workers in the city. The graduate trainees will get another N100,000 after six months following a report of good usage of the initial grant. The Coordinator of Society Against Prostitution and Child Labour in Nigeria (SAP-CLN), Mrs. Grace Adogo whose non-governmental organisation (NGO) is in charge of the rehabilitation and
training explained that the girls at the centre have proved the FCT administration right. The administration has made the point that commercial sex workers can be rehabilitated and become role models if given the necessary support and facilities to be on their own. The graduation of the skill trainees proved that point. Mrs. Adogo noted that the centre would continue to provide necessary atmosphere for the rehabilitation and training of commercial
sex workers who are ready to be integrated into the larger society, advising members of the public to also assist the girls by accepting them back, rather than stigmatising them. FCT Minister Bala Mohammed who was represented by the Secretary for Education in the Federal Capital Development Administration, Kabir Usman expressed optimism that the trainees will make good use of the opportunity given to them.
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HERE is a renewal of infrastructure in Katsina State. Dilapidated facilities in the state schools are getting a new lease of life. Communities which had no schools now have some built for them by the Ibrahim Shema administration. The state government is also tackling other enduring challenges in the state. For instance, there has been a severe shortfall in pupil enrolment in schools. The prevalence of Almajiri and street begging is also an issue, as is girl child education. But the governor is tackling them quite well. Over the past five years, the state government has spent over N70b the construction, expansion, rehabilitation of infrastructures as well as in training and manpower development in the educational sector, according to the Commissioner for Education Prof Aminu Kado Kurfi. Six parastatals played a crucial role in this upgrade. They include the State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB), Science and Technical Eduaction Board (STEB), Agency for Mass Education (AME), Department for Higher Education (AHE), Teachers Service Board (TSB) and Mathematical Improvement Projects (MIP). The policy thrust of the administration is building additional primary and secondary schools in every rural settlement and upgrading others, as a response to the increasing enrolment of pupils in schools. Kurfi said: “Already, 25 buildings have been upgraded to storey buildings in Bindawa, Kurfi, Batagarawa, Danja, Malumfashi, Baure, Barhim, Danmusa, Dutsin-ma, Dandume, Ingawa, Mani, Mashi, Musawa, Kankia, Abukur, Funtua, Zango, Sabuwa and Safana.” “Among other projects constructed were seven Zonal Inspectorate of Education (ZIE) offices at Malumfashi, Funtua, Daura, Dutsin-ma, Mani, Kankia, and katsina. Other institutions have been expanded and rehabilitated. They include 13 col-
•Governor Shema (second left) and members of the cabinet celebrate their award cash
Infrastructural upgrade in Katsina Schools built, girl-child education improved From Isah Idris, Katsina
leges and Government Arabic Secondary School Fago. Newsextra learnt that because of the premium the governor places on girl-child education, his administration working in collaboration with the local councils and UNESCO, established 34 Girls Pri-
mary Schools in each of the local government areas. The government has also provided bus service in the girl day schools at Daura, Funtua and Katsina to convey the pupils to and from school. For effectiveness in this area, the governor created the office of Special Adviser on Girl and Child Development.
The wife of the state governor, Hajiya Fatima Ibrahim Shema has been providing crucial support, especially caring for the less-privileged and the girl-child. Her pet project, Service To Humanity Foundation (SHF), has been fighting corporal punishment in school as well as violation of child’s right.
“Let our children trust, relate and look unto our teachers as their friends, not enemies, as role model not oppressors,” she once said in a seminar. Absence of this congenial atmosphere, she said, is an impediment to the success of children and girl-child education. Our investigation revealed that Governor Shema reviewed the girl•Continued on Page 26