RSG, UNESCO Partner On Girls, Women Empowerment

The Rivers State Government says the State is now the hub of education in the country because of the huge investment in the education sector . The Commissioner for Education Rivers State Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi made this disclosure when the Project Coordinator of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO P&G Project on the Empowerment of Girls and Women in Literacy and Skills Development through the use of ICT paid her a courtesy visit in her office in Port Harcourt. The Commissioner stated that the of the State Government did not only build new structures but also went ahead to give scholarships to the deserving students in the State.  She also said that the UNESCO Empowerment for Girls and Women in Literacy and Skills Development through the use of ICT will give the Girl child in the state an optional form of education.
The Education boss stated that the programme will promote the literacy level in the State because of the role of women in national development. She also promised that the State Government will provide the necessary logistics for a smooth take-off of the programme in the State. The Commissioner also set up a 10-man committee which have the Commissioner for Education as a member. Other members include, the Permanent Secretary Minabelem Michael West, Director State Agency for Adult and Non-formal Education Nuaton Nwanikpo, State SUBEB Chairman Sir Alli Oruitemeka, A representative from the Ministry of Women Affairs, three representatives from selected NGO’s and three UNESCO officials.
The Permanent Secretary Rivers State Ministry of Education Minabelem Michael West, Esq, mni, said the project will promote the level of literacy among the women folk in the State. He stated that the State Government will continue to prioritize education which is the bedrock of development in any society.
On his part, the Director State Agency for Adults and Non-Formal Education Nuaton Nwanikpo said that the Agency is ready for the planned take-off of the UNESCO programme. The Director stated that the Agency has been on the fore front of adult literacy in Rivers State. He however, states that the project will compliment the State Government’s effort in eradicating illiteracy in Rivers State.
He stated that educating women and girls will contribute to the economic and literacy development of the State because women are the biggest stakeholders in national development.
The Project Coordinator of the UNESCO Project on the Empowerment of Girls and Women in Literacy and Skills Development through the use of ICT, Dr Sufiya Muhammad said that the main objective of the project is to increase the literacy rates among the girls and women, so as to accelerate and underpin the National efforts of achieving the Education for all goals. These goals are to ensure that the learning needs of all young people and adults are met through equitable access to appropriate learning and life skills programmes, achieve a 50% improvement in the levels of adult literacy by 2015, especially for women, and equitable access to basic and continuing education for all adults, as well as eliminating all gender disparities in primary and secondary education, thereby achieving gender equality in education by 2015.
Dr Muhammad also said that the project will empower 60,000 girls and women in two States, (Rivers and FCT) who are illiterates or those whose dropped out of school for one reason or the other, through the acquisition of basic literacy and vocational skills. Areas of concentration for the project include;
i.           Identification of beneficiary communities for the project
ii.           identification of centres for the project;
iii.           Listing of number of classrooms including facilities such as tables, chairs, desks and so on;
iv.           Listing of number of expected learners per classroom;
v.           classification and registration of learners, including low performing Junior Secondary students, Advanced Literacy (Dropouts) and Basic Literacy.
vi.           identification and list of facilitators for all the identified centres.
Rivers State and FCT were chosen by UNESCO for the pilot of the programme in Nigeria. Rivers State was chosen because of its huge investment and achievements in education.

Rivers State Commissioner for information and communications, Mrs Ibim Semenatari and her husband, Henry(1st and 2nd right) sharing a joke with the wife of the Rivers State Governor, Dame Judith Amaechi (left) and other dignitaries at her birthday celebration in Government House, Port Harcourt, recently.