Kenny Folarin, Abuja
14 year Old Dorcas Joshua has said that there can not be a digital revolution without access to the digital world by the Nigerian Girls.
Joshua while speaking in Abuja on Monday at the commemoration of the 2021 International Day of the Girl-Child in Abuja that noted there is a huge gender divide in access to digital literacy in favour of boys and as such, digital revolution therefore cannot be without Nigerian girls.
Joshua expressed concern over the poor transition of the Girl-Child from the lower basic education to the upper basic education.
Joshua explained that 58 per cent for the northern states of Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara are affected, the national average for girls’ transition from primary to junior secondary stands at 64 percent, a record which is unacceptable.
She added that girls’ enrollment, and transition, continue to be jeopardized and even where enrolled, girls are less likely than boys to complete secondary education due many obvious reasons.
She however assured that she will in her own capacity ensure that more secondary schools are built in all states to match the number of
girls graduating from primary schools with maximum of 2 km distance from their homes.
Also ensure school connectivity to internet with modern facilities for all Nigerian children, increase investment in education to close the gender digital divide and Invest in knowing more about girls’ and young women’s digital realitiand supporting the learning solutions that is fit for their digital world.
“Invest in knowing more about girls’ and young women’s digital realitiand supporting the learning solutions that is fit for their digital world, support safe spaces for girls such as Girls for Girls (G4G) groups adolescent girls in schools.
Also support mentoring and Life skills in schools especially for girls and work with community based structures especially Traditional
Religious leaders in addressing social and gender norms in the society.
UNICEF, Innovation Manager, Mr Minu Limbu stated that over 1.3 million Nigerian adolescent girls are estimated to drop out every year before reaching the last year of lower secondary school.
Limbu explained that the gender digital in connectivity, access to devices and the skills to use are real but girls are less privileged in this area.
He disclosed that on digital access, in low and middle income countries such as Nigeria, more than 50% of women are offline, and 20% less likely than men to own a smart phone.
He therefore ask for improved access to digital skills and other life skills by girls for transition to secondary education.