Mrs. Saraki kicks against gender disparity …laments over 60 million out-of-school-girls worldwide
Adetokunbo Fakeye
Wife of the Nigerian Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Saraki has lamented the spate of gender discrimination.
According to her, the issue poses serious threat to achieving the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Mrs. Saraki who spoke as representative of the Wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Buhari, at the just concluded United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States of America (USA), berated the decline in the level of girl child education across the world.
She insisted that girls’ education should be made the priority of every government if development is envisaged development is to be all encompassing and all embracing.
Mrs Saraki who is also the Founder/President of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), said: “Girl’s education is a vital tool for both development and empowerment. Breaking down barriers in girl’s education cannot be underestimated.
“Educating our girls could unleash unlimited potential and transform communities – both in my motherland of Nigeria and across the world.
“Yet, across the world, 31 million girls of primary school age and 32 million girls of lower secondary school age are out of school, with sub-Saharan Africa suffering the lowest proportion of countries with gender parity in education.
“Beyond personal fulfillment and growth, education is a source for social development and economic growth. In societies where women and men are more equal, economies grow faster; and general wellbeing is improved.” Mrs. Saraki stated.