By Ahmed Ajikobi
The Federation of Muslim Women’s Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN), has decried the poor educational environment management in the country, which has produced hordes of street children.
A communique issued at the end of FOMWAN’s 34th Annual National Conference and signed by the FOMWAN National Amirah, Hajiya Halimah Jibril and the Public Relation Officer, Dr. Sumaye Fadimatu Hamza, noted that the hordes of children beggars (Almajiris) are threat to future development of the nation.
Hence, it urged Northern state governors to articulate legal instruments and policies to protect the rights of Almajiri children to life, education and development.
“We call on the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) to adopt the Almajiri issue as priority on its agenda and support the implementation of programmes in their states that will gradually take the children off the streets,” it added.
The Muslim group, however, stated that sexual abuse and rape, especially of minors threaten and deny girls their right to educational development.
It, therefore, called on government at all levels and educational institution to protect girls by invoking the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, and other existing laws on rape and sexual abuse by punishing offenders. “Parents are called upon to break the culture of silence by reporting rapists to the appropriate authorities for prosecution and staying the course of justice,” FOMWAN further said.
Worried by the increasing rate of drug abuse among women and youths, which is fast weakening the family foundation and depleting youth population, the group advocated stiffer penalty for producers, smugglers, and peddlers of dangerous drugs/substances destroying lives of future leaders.
It also advised the Federal and State governments to empower women with skills in new technology that will reduce domestic labour.
Meanwhile, the conference, which was held between 19th and 22nd September, 2019 in Katsina State, had as its theme, โEnvironmental Management: Implications for Sustainable National Development.โ
The event was declared opened by the First Lady, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, represented by Hajiya Husseina Kurfi.
