By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) has implore its various state chapters to establish higher institutions of learning in to promote the growth and development of women and youths’ education.
The National Amirah gave the charge at the weekend while delivering a keynote address at a two-day education summit with the theme “Achieving Total Development Through Quality Education In The Midst of Security Challenges” organized by the Bauchi State chapter of the association held at Central Mosque Conference Hall, Bauchi.
Amirah Rafi’at explained that FOMWAN has five cardinal principles which included Education of the Female, Education of the Gild-child, and Provision of Humanitarian Services, among others.
National Amirah said that the education summit is one of the strategies developed by FOMWAN to sensitize and mobilize the populace, especially stakeholders in the sector, and the Muslim Ummah in general to accord priority to education.
She described FOMWAN as an education focus organization that promote the educational development of women, youths and children through the establishment of formal and non-formal schools including vocational centers all over the federation.
Declaring the summit opened, Bauchi First Lady, Hajiya A’isha Bala Mohammed said that the present administration has since its inception in 2019 attached great significance to the education of women and youths in the society.
Represented by the commissioner of women affairs and child development, Hajara Jibrin Gidado, the first lady said the state government has been collaborating with NGOs such as FOMWAN towards the promotion and development of education in the state.
Earlier in a welcome address, Bauchi State Amirah of the association, A’ishatu Ibrahim Kilishi noted that education goes beyond teaching youths reading and writing alone, as it plays significant roles in the maintenance of peace and security.
Hajiya A’ishatu Kilishi assured that FOMWAN would continue to impact positively on the educational progress of the Ummah.
Kilishi, while explaining that education remain the tool for poverty eradication and human development, said the association is deeply involved in developing and promoting access to education with the provision of 14 nurseries, primary and secondary schools, over 100 Islamiyya/Qur’anic centers, 15 adult literacy classes and skill acquisition and vocational centers.
She observed that education in the state is facing some challenges that need to be addressed, saying “We have noticed that inadequate funding, poor implementation of national policies on education, politicization of education, mismanagement, wastages, inadequate data as some of the factors that culminated into poor quality of education in the country”.
Kilishi added, “Education is a tool for improving national security. It plays a significant role in the maintenance of peace and security. The education that enhances security goes beyond teaching youths reading and writing alone it’s must be all embracing”.