UNESCO to Empower 50,000 girls in literacy and skills in Bauchi

UNESCO to Empower 50,000 girls in literacy and skills in Bauchi.

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), had began its `School Meets the Learner Approach (SMLA)’ project  to empower 50,000 girls in literacy and skills development through Information Communication Technology in Bauchi State.

UNESCO is collaborating with Microsoft and Zariah Elizabeth Foundation to empower women and girls to boost girl-child school enrollment and general societal inequality.

In a statement issued in Abuja by Mr Akindayo Akindolani, the Executive Director Zariah Elizabeth Foundation in Abuja, said that the programme which began on May 21, is a train the trainer initiative.

Mr Yao Ydo, UNESCO’s Regional Director at the kick off of the project earlier in the week said training women and girls were part of the organisation’s efforts to work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

“Girls’ education will complement the global target of Sustainable Development Goals particularly as it relates to inclusiveness and not leaving anyone behind.

“The SMLA project will deploy ICT devices such as television, tablets and mobile phones to learners in their homes and workplaces to facilitate teaching and learning.”

Akindolani, however, said the collaboration would sustain digital empowerment of Nigerian women and investment in the enhancement of ICT penetration, education in the country.

“The project implementation will be to international standards and will kick off with a train the trainer for Computer teachers and facilitators who will serve as trainers for the beneficiaries.

“The students will be trained using digital devices pre-loaded with learning materials based on Microsoft curriculum.

“This project will train 50,000 girls aged 11 to 21 years in Basic Digital Literacy over a period of one year through training of community teachers and facilitators across the six local governments in Bauchi State.”

He said the six local governments areas were Alkaleri, Bauchi, Dass, Katagum, Tafawa Balewa and Warji respectively.

According to him, the six UNESCO training centers in the six selected local government areas in the state will serve as learning hubs for the period of the project.

Mr Olusola Amusan, Philanthropies Lead Microsoft Nigeria said the empowerment was a way of encouraging more girls in the area of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers.

“Empowering women in STEM fields drives economic growth, equality and innovation.

“We want to create a culture where more women are attracted to the STEM fields and believe in themselves as having a career path in the technology industry.

“Microsoft Nigeria makes it a point of responsibility to identify laudable projects such as this and continues to demonstrate its resolve to improving ICT education in Nigeria.

“We focus on ICT education especially among the deprived section of the population by committing considerable resources and establishing a monitoring and evaluation system,” he said. (NAN)