From Joe Effiong, Uyo
Akwa Ibom State has over 9,000 out-of-school girls between the ages of 15 and 18 who are supposed to be in the senior secondary school level, just as about 10,000 from the ages of 15 to 18 who are supposed to be in the the junior secondary classes are also out of school.
A two-volume report launched at the weekend in Uyo on the state of girl child education (SoGE) in Akwa Ibom State by Onelife Initiative, a youth-serving nongovernmental organisation with support from Malala Fund, also identified Uyo, the state capital, among the LGAs consistently recording the least success rate in the last five years in the West African Senior Secondary School Certification Examinations (WASSCE).
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The significance of the report is in its provision of credible data that will guide stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education, to strengthen policies and interventions that directly impact the lives of our girls,” the Commissioner stated.
Executive Director of Onelife Initiative, Sola Fagorusi while presenting excerpts from Vol. I and II covering 2019 to 2024 shared insights on the academic performances of girls in public secondary schools aggregated from the 31 local government areas.
“In 2019, 18,599 girls from public secondary schools enrolled for the West Africa Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) while 22,468 girls from public school enrolled for the exams in 2024, signalling an increase in enrolment.
“For the National Examinations Council (NECO), 3,698 girls in private schools enrolled, while 5,589 girls from public schools enrolled in 2024.
“Meanwhile, about 4,600 girls of Junior Secondary Classes and 9,600 of Senior Secondary School Classes are currently out of school in Akwa Ibom State, according to analysis of the MICS-EAGLE data,” Fagorusi explained.
Speaking further, he said: “Our findings from West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC) and NECO reveal that local governments, such as Mkpat Enin, Onna, Ikot Ekpene, Ibeno, Obot Akara and Eastern Obolo are among the top five performing local governments for female candidates in the state over the last five years, with the likes of Oron, Uyo, Nsit Atai, Ika, Itu and Ibesikpo Asutan being bottom performers.“
The report, among other recommendations, urged the government and the philanthropic groups to consider improving water, sanitation and hygiene in schools for girls and building toilets for the girls in a location different from the boys, while also making plans for its maintenance.
The state Commissioner for Education, Prof Ubong Essien Umo, represented at the event by the Assistant Director, State Quality Assurance Services, Mrs. Blessing Etuk, promised to work together with other state and non-state actors to implement vital recommendations from the SoGE reports.
Professor Umo explained that “while the state has implemented a number of programmes and initiatives targeted at the girl child, including the construction of Modern Girls Secondary School, Ikot Ekang, and scholarship programmes for indigent and high-performing students to encourage retention and academic excellence, including the girl child; more still lie ahead.
“The Ministry of Education needs to also work with the 31 local government areas in the state to host annual prize giving days for best academic performance for the girls in all the LGAs annually, while also providing rooms for development and expression of sport skills for girls.”
While reacting to the presentation, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Inibehe Silas Etukudo represented by the Director of Economic Services, Nkechi Udoh, committed her ministry’s preparedness to focus on LGAs with poor performances reflected in the SoGE report to ensure safety in schools and curb sexual harassment, which also has effect on girls’ academic performances.
Onelife Initiative is a youth-serving, non-governmental organisation, actively providing and connecting young people with information, services and resources needed to thrive and build a resilient society.
The organisation prioritises policy advocacy and promotes gender and social inclusion across its thematic areas.
Also unveiled at the event was a free online course, equipping corps members, especially those without background in education, with gender sensitive teaching methods and approaches, especially as it affects the girl child. The 219 corps members in Akwa Ibom state have already been enrolled on the platform.
Over 55 female students from nine secondary schools across Ikot Ekpene and Uyo senatorial districts were present on the occasion. Others present included the Akwa Ibom State Civil Society Forum and the Safe School Unit of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Ministry of Youth Development.
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