Our Correspondent, Bauchi
The Bauchi State Government has partnered with Japanese government and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) to tackle the disruptions of learning, sexual gender based violence caused by COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
Mrs. Magdalene Maidoh, representative of the director, UNESCO regional office, Abuja, announced this at the formal launching of the Japan-UNESCO projects in Bauchi.
She said the project was tagged ‘Empowering women and girls for better wellbeing through Education in Nigeria’.
Maidoh explained that the project was set to tackle the disruption of learning and surge of sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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She said the project was also to promote the empowerment of women girls in the marginalised community for better well-being through education and advocacy.
She said, “The project is a tool for effective advocacy on eliminating sexual gender based violence (SGBV) and reducing the spread of COVID-19 contributing to peace and stability and inclusive development to beneficiary states of Bauchi, Gombe and Delta”.
Maidoh pointed out that the project was expected to be achieved through the combined impact of psychosocial rehabilitation, community media empowerment and second chance education opportunities.
She said the project was designed to be implemented in Bauchi, Gombe and Delta states with funding from the Japanese government.
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Maidoh added that technical support would be provided by UNESCO, to create awareness on strategies for addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on learning and to provide training on preventive measures to women and girls, through education and advocacy.
Responding , Professor Sani Mallami, Senior Adviser to the Bauchi State governor on Multi-sectoral, expressed the government’s commitment to implement the projects in the state.
He said the present administration will provide all the counterpart funding required for the smooth implementation of the project in the state.
He further commended UNESCO for selecting Bauchi for the implementation of the project, saying the state government had been addressing gender based violence in synergy with critical stakeholders in the society.
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“We are really delighted to receive you on behalf of the Government and people of Bauchi State on this very rewarding and mutually beneficial programme that you will be implemented in Bauchi. We thank you sincerely for bringing this project to us in Bauchi,” he said.
He said the project would add value and complement government efforts in reducing the disruption of learning and the scourge of SGBV in the state.
Mallami pledged continued support during the implementation of the project effectively in the state.