Married adolescent girls in Tashan Kangele community, Maiduguri, Borno State, have urged the government to expand access to Western education, saying it would help them reshape their futures and contribute meaningfully to society.
The young women, many of whom married between ages 13 and 16, lamented that they were unaware of adult or second-chance learning centres in the state.
They called for increased awareness, more schools, and measures to address mobility challenges.Fatima Umar, 22, divorced after marrying at 16, said her desire to be educated like her co-wife led to conflict that ended her marriage.
“I want to go to school. I crave education,” she said, adding that she hopes to complete her studies before turning 30.Maryam Abba, 18, married at 14 and now a mother of two, revealed she has never attended school.
“If there is a means for me to go back to school, I will be glad because it will help me care for my children and for them to also be educated,” she explained.
Similarly, Aisha Usman, married at 13 after losing her mother, said financial constraints have hindered her return to school. “I just want to learn how to read so I can teach my children,” she noted.
Programme Director of the Participatory Communication for Gender Development Initiative (PAGED), Umi Bukar, warned that neglecting women’s education could worsen insecurity in the future.
She stressed that empowering adolescent girls through education is critical to breaking cycles of poverty and instability.
“These are the mothers for the nation. If they don’t benefit from education, their children may also not benefit, and the circle will continue,” Bukar said.
The initiative is encouraging young women to speak out directly, hoping their voices will compel government action to prioritize female education in Northern Nigeria.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com