By Peter Akpah
FEDERATION OF MUSLIM WOMEN’S ASSOCIATIONS
IN NIGERIA.
FOMWAN National Headquarters Complex, 12 Ekukinam Street, Opposite Chisco Travels, Utako, Abuja. Nigeria
PRESS RELEASE.
The Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) joins the World to mark the International Day of the Girl Child. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed on the 19th December 2011, that the 11th of October every year should be marked as the International Year of the Girl Child. The proclamation is hinged on the UN Resolution 66/170 for acknowledging the rights of girls and particularly challenges that girls face. Research has shown that Rapid economic development is dependent upon elimination of gender bias. Additionally, Female education serves as an investment that will help facilitate the achievement of family planning objectives and the production of healthier children. Poor female nutrition contributes to greater vulnerability to disease and to poor physical and mental development. We are aware that in Africa and particularly in Nigeria, the Girl Child faces lots of cultural and socio-economic challenges in comparison to the boy child. According to UNICEF publication, even though primary education is officially free and compulsory, about 10.5 million of Nigeria’s children aged 5-14 years are not in school. Only 61 percent of 6-11 year-olds regularly attend primary school and only 35.6 percent of children aged 36-59 months receive early childhood education. In the north of the country, the picture is even bleaker, with a net attendance rate of 53 percent. Getting out-of-school children back into education poses a massive challenge. This situation is worrisome and calls for our collective resolve to support the holistic development of the Girl Child.
FOMWAN considers the 2020 theme, “My Voice Our Equal Future”, for the International Day of the Girl Child as very appropriate, because having a space to speak and participate is key in any inclusive governance. Long before the UN proclamation Islam has provided recognition and protection of the Girl Child in all aspects of life ranging from education, inheritance, leadership among others. In the Quran Suratul Ahzab verse 35 Allah says:
Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so – for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward. [Surah Al-Ahzaab:35]
This clearly shows that all are equal in the eyes of the creator and everyone is judged according to his/her deeds and not because of gender or sex.
FOMWAN therefore advocates for all hands to be on deck to ensure that the Girl Child is treated equally with the Boy Child so that both can contribute to self and nation.
Hajiya Halimah Jibril.
National Amiran FOMWAN.
Dr Sumaye Hamza
National PRO FOMWAN
Sourcenews24/update.com 