…laments rising out-of-school syndrome among girl-children
Monday Danladi
Parents, especially mothers in Durum village of Bauchi Local Government Area of Bauchi State, have been urged to prioritise the education of their girl-children and stop sending them out to hawk.
The Sarkin Durum Community, Alhaji Nasiru Mohammed Durum, made the call while addressing women in his palace during the celebration of the 2026 International Women’s Day organised by the Bauchi State chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) on Thursday.
The traditional ruler decried the growing trend of parents refusing to send their daughters to school but instead engaging them in street hawking.
He lamented that many parents had neglected the education of the girl-child and relegated her to the background, treating her merely as a source of income without considering her future.
According to him, women play a crucial role in shaping the lives of their daughters.
“Women have great influence on what the girl-child becomes in life because she is close to you. Treat her in a way that will make her a better woman tomorrow. I am not saying that the girl-child should not assist at home, but her education should be paramount,” he said.
Nasiru also expressed concern that many girls are often molested and violated while hawking on the streets by men who do not fear God.
He therefore urged mothers to ensure that their daughters are protected and return home early whenever they go out.
The monarch further noted that as a traditional ruler, he has been making efforts to ensure women participate actively in the development of the community through different livelihood initiatives.
He explained that he recently facilitated the introduction of a women’s farming group in the community to empower women with agricultural skills for sustainable economic growth and development.
However, he lamented that the initiative is benefiting only a few women because many of them are not educated.
“We recently brought a women’s farming group to the community to teach women modern farming activities, but because many of them are not educated, only a few are benefiting from the programme,” he said.
The traditional ruler also reiterated the community’s strict stance against gender-based violence.
“We are very strict on issues of violence against women, particularly the girl-child. We do not take any form of violence lightly. We ensure justice is done no matter how long it takes,” he added.
He further called on women to take advantage of healthcare services by attending hospitals during pregnancy and delivering in health facilities to ensure safe and skilled birth delivery.
“Accessing quality healthcare services is the right of women, but it is painful that many women still do not go to health facilities even though the services are available and health workers are ready to attend to them,” he said.
He therefore appealed to women in the community to be more proactive in protecting their rights and paying closer attention to the wellbeing of their daughters.
The monarch also commended NAWOJ and its leadership for choosing the community to host the 2026 International Women’s Day celebration, describing the event as memorable.
In his remarks, an Islamic cleric explained that Islam clearly outlines the rights and responsibilities of women in society.
He noted that Islam does not deny women access to education and healthcare services, stressing that women have the right to seek medical attention even when their husbands are not around.
He also emphasised that educating women is important to enable them perform Islamic rites properly.
Similarly, a Christian religious leader present at the event said Christianity encourages women to acquire education and participate in decision-making within the family.
She explained that Christianity does not relegate women but rather empowers them to contribute to the development of the family and society.
According to her, women should not remain in the background but should play active roles in building strong families that will lead to a better society.
Some women who attended the programme expressed appreciation to the organisers, noting that the event had broadened their understanding of their rights, justice, and their role as partners in the development of society.
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