Kaduna state government will soon domesticate the Child
Right Act to protect girls and give them fair chances for self realisation,
Gov. Nasiru el-Rufai, has said.
El-Rufai made the statement on Wednesday in Kaduna at an
event organised to commemorate the 2016 World Population Day.
Represented by his deputy, Mr Barnabas Bantex, the governor
said that the bill had been forwarded to the state Assembly for passage.
He said: ``we cannot deny that teenage girls in the country,
especially in the north are facing issues detrimental to their well being.
``Issues ranging from forced marriages, early motherhood,
sexual abuse, gender discrimination and lack of access to education and prompt
justice.
``In respond to this, we are strengthening our justice
system to speedily respond and tackle cases of rape and other forms of violence
and abuse against the girl child.’’
The governor reiterated the commitment of his administration
to invest in the development of teenage girls, stressing that the state would
continue to invest massively in the education of children.
``Just recently, the state’s House of Assembly passed an executive
bill that gives every child access to nine-year free and compulsory basic
education.
``When this bill fully comes into operation at the
commencement of the next academic calendar in September, parents that refused
to send their children to school will face the law.
``This is because we firmly believe that every teenage girl
should be given the opportunity to grow into a productive adult and contribute
to the growth and development of her community.
``The girl child needs to be given the necessary tools and
opportunities to make informed decisions about their lives and future,’’ he
said.
In her remark, Hajiya Rabi Abdulsalam, the Commissioner for
Women Affairs and Social Development, urged teenage girls in the state to speak
out when they are sexually abused or molested for justice to prevail.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Muhammed
Abdullahi, said that the government is saddled with the responsibility of
providing necessary resources to ensure the development of youths in the state.
He said that the recent estimate of the population of the
state was put at 8.36 million out of which 75 per cent are under 35 years.
He added that based on the estimate, 900, 000 were girls
between the ages of 10 to 19.
The commissioner said that the government had designed
policies to ensure sustainable development of the younger generation.
According to him, implementation of the policies has been
captured in the state development plan 2016 to 2020.
Also speaking, UNPF Country Representative, Ms Ratidzai
Ndhlovu, called on government at all levels to empower teenage girls to make
informed decisions in life.
``Everyone deserves the benefits of economic growth and
social progress.
``Let us work together to ensure a life of security, dignity
and opportunity for all,’’ Ndhlovu said.
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