Bauchi Gov Launches UNESCO Programme, Pledges Immediate Payment of Outstanding Contributions

Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of Bauchi state on Tuesday evening flagged off the official commencement of an educational programme in the state, tagged "School Meet the Learner Approach Program" initiated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

The governor who launched the program at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Bauchi pledged to ensure immediate payment of all the outstanding counterpart funding for the organisation's intervention. 

The governor observed that the new approach of learning will no doubt assist teachers to structure, sequence and plan out learning goals for specific instructional period for the achievement of a larger and long term educational goals. 

He noted that the project will ginger and empower teeming girls and women to remain in school to aspire for higher education by supporting them to overcome the barriers that hinder the opportunity for girl child education in various communities of the state. 

"As we gathered here today for this important event, we should be looking for a complete package of supporting girls and women to remain focused on their educational development as well as promote better society as the popular saying goes, "Investing in Women Education is investing in the nation."

"It is a project aimed at providing basic literacy and livelihood skills to girls and women in Bauchi state in order to reduce the imbalances and disparities in the education of males and females over a period of 2 years."

He assured the readiness of the government to do everything to ensure the sustenance of the project and replicated to other Local Government Areas of the state. 

He said in recognition of the importance of education to national development, quality of lives and other social benefits, his administration had collaborated with the United Nations agencies and other development partners to ensure people gain access to education especially at the basic level.

To this end, Governor Bala Mohammed said the state government is fulfilling all pledges and payment of counterpart funds to various ministries, departments and agencies that are responsible for the provision of education in the state. 

The governor disclosed the release of N54,600,000 counter funding to UNESCO by the state government for the procurement of customized mobile devices in addition to the ones donated by the organisation. 

"We are not unmindful of the importance of educating individuals within the society to prepare them for work in the economy as well as integrate people into society by teaching them values and morals."

Gov. Bala Mohammed therefore called on the implementating agencies particularly, Bauchi State Agency for Mass Education and the State Universal Basic Education Board  ( SUBEB ) to ensure the success of the project through intensive monitoring and supervision. 

Speaking further on the rationale behind the introduction of the program, the Acting Director and Head of Education Sector, UNESCO Regional Office, Abuja, Mr. Lamine Sow, said empowerment of women and girls in literacy and skills development through the use of technology is one of the priority area of UNESCO in a bid to achieve excellent results in education. 

Mr. Lamine Sow explained that the project was initiated to eradicate the scourge of out-of- school children not only in Bauchi state, but across the country. 

In a welcome address, the State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Aliyu Tilde, said fifty thousand indigenes of the state are expected to benefit from the UNESCO's School Meet the Learner Approach Program in 6 Local Government Areas of Alkaleri, Bauchi, Dass, Katagum, Warji and Tafawa Balewa. 

Dr. Tilde expressed confidence that the implementation of the program in the state will improve literacy and other educational capability of beneficiaries at the grassroots.