Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III stresses that Islam supports girl child education and calls for better implementation across Nigeria.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has reaffirmed that Islam does not oppose the education of the girl child, stressing the need for better implementation of educational initiatives in Nigeria.
Speaking at the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project event in Bauchi on Thursday, Abubakar highlighted the importance of educating young girls to uplift society.
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The AGILE project, which is organised by Nigeria’s Ministry of Education with support from the World Bank, aims to empower young girls by improving access to quality education.
In his remarks, the Sultan explained that the barriers to girl child education are often more about the way it is approached, rather than cultural or religious opposition.
“Islam is not against the education of the girl child,” the Sultan stated. “There are a couple of reasons why this issue is not being fully addressed, both here and in other states. The main issue is how we educate people about the importance of this cause.”
He noted a recent observation that some children were seen hawking on the streets during school hours. Upon asking them, he learned that they attend both morning and afternoon school sessions.
The Sultan expressed his concerns over the balance between education and work responsibilities for children, particularly girls.
He emphasised that the education of the girl child is crucial for societal advancement. “Giving the girl child education is the best thing to do because she will use it to better the society. She will take care of herself, her family, and the community,” he said.
The Sultan’s comments come at a time when efforts to increase access to education for girls in northern Nigeria are being intensified.
While many religious and cultural leaders have supported the cause, challenges such as poverty, early marriage, and inadequate educational facilities continue to hinder progress.
Source: Read more at channelstv.com
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
