Yobe Govt Urges Girls To Stay In School, Acquire Digital Skills

The Yobe State Government has urged adolescent girls to remain in school, acquire relevant skills and pursue higher education to contribute meaningfully to the development of the state and the country.

The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Professor Abba Idris Adam, made the call during the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child celebration held at the NEDC Hall in Damaturu.

Adam, who was represented by the ministry’s Director of Planning, Ibrahim Sani Audu, said the government was investing in girls’ education through the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project to improve access to quality secondary education and equip girls with skills needed to succeed in a changing world.

He explained that the initiative was designed to ensure that girls enrol in school, remain in the education system and complete their secondary education.

According to him, the project, implemented by the Yobe State Government with support from the World Bank, provides digital skills, life skills and other learning opportunities to prepare beneficiaries for higher education and future responsibilities.

He commended Governor Mai Mala Buni for facilitating the state’s participation in the initiative and acknowledged the efforts of the commissioner in monitoring its implementation.

Adam said the investment in girls’ education was aimed at producing a generation of educated, skilled and empowered young women who could contribute to governance, healthcare, education and other critical sectors.

He stressed that women were essential to national development, noting that educating a girl benefits not only her immediate family but also the wider society.

The commissioner urged parents, teachers and community leaders to support girls’ education, protect them from challenges that could disrupt their schooling and encourage those who had dropped out to return.

He also encouraged beneficiaries to take advantage of the project’s life-skills training and conditional cash transfer support, where applicable, to improve their educational opportunities.

Highlighting the importance of digital literacy, Adam said the provision of information and communication technology (ICT) facilities and training under the initiative would help girls acquire relevant skills and compete in an increasingly technology-driven world.

He urged the students to remain committed to their studies, excel in their examinations and pursue higher education, adding that society would depend on them to provide essential services and assume leadership responsibilities in the future.

Earlier, the AGILE Project Coordinator, Mallam Abdullahi Dahiru Bula, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving girls’ access to education and addressing challenges that often prevent them from completing secondary school.

Bula said educating and empowering girls required collective responsibility, urging parents, school administrators and community members to provide the necessary support for their safety, protection and development.

The International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually to promote girls’ rights, highlight challenges affecting them and mobilise support for their education, empowerment and overall well-being.