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…Celebrates International Day of the Girl Child
By Chinelo Obogo
In celebration of the Day of the Girl Child, Bridge International Academies has said it constantly provides girls with the tools they need to become leaders, change-makers, and contributors to their communities.
The Managing Director of Bridge Nigeria, Foyinsola Akinjayeju, said that compared to the World Bank’s data that shows 43.7% of girls and 50.4% of boys completed lower secondary school in Nigeria as of 2010, the 2022 UNICEF Country Office Annual Report (COAR) says 67% of girls and 69% of boys completed lower secondary education in 2021.
She said the reports illustrate that there has been some improvement in the education of the girl-child in Nigeria but there is still a lot more to be done to reach Sustainable Development Goal targets by 2030. She pointed out that there are still child marriages, cultural barriers, socio-economic factors etc. affecting the education of the girl-child.
“The International Day of the Girl Child which is celebrated on the 11th of October is an opportunity to lend our voices to this course as we call on parents, educators, private institutions and policymakers to take steps towards empowering the girl child and ensuring equity between genders.
“October 11th is set aside every year to spotlight the rights and unique challenges that girls around the world face, and this year’s theme – ‘Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being’ resonates very deeply with Bridge’s mission and values especially as it concerns issues around digital and life-skills training.
“Bridge International Academies recognises that education is the key to unlocking the potential of every child, regardless of gender. Every time we deprive a ‘girl-child’ of her rights, we stifle potential, we dim a prospect, we short-change our world and for us at Bridge, we are aligned with the SDG4 to provide inclusive and equitable education for every child.
“Bridge schools are places of equal opportunity and equal learning benefits for all children. Reports and independent studies have consistently shown that girls in Bridge Schools perform exceptionally well, on par with their male counterparts. During the 2023 National Common Entrance Examination in Nigeria, numerous female Bridge pupils emerged as top performers. These achievements have earned them scholarships and admissions into some of the country’s top secondary schools, further highlighting the quality of education and equity in opportunities provided by Bridge.
Also speaking, the Schools’ Director, Omotola Francis-Akinlolu, said: “We actively engage with communities to promote the importance of girls’ education. Through initiatives like parent-teacher associations and community meetings, we encourage parents and caregivers to support their daughters’ education and break down traditional barriers.
” Bridge’s curriculum is also designed to be gender-responsive, addressing the unique needs and challenges faced by girls. We aim to empower our female students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the 21st century. We firmly believe that investing in girls’ education is not only a matter of their rights but also a key driver of progress and development for Nigeria.”
