By Shafa’atu Suleiman, Sokoto
In a world where adolescent girls face numerous challenges, including poverty, inequality, menstrual scarcity, mental health issues and violence, creating safe spaces for them is crucial for their well-being.
Save the Child Initiative (STCI) in collaboration with the Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project in Sokoto, North-West Nigeria, is doing just that – providing a haven for adolescent girls to thrive.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), one in five girls worldwide experiences sexual violence before the age of 18.
In Nigeria, the statistics are equally alarming, with 30% of girls experiencing sexual violence before the age of 18 (National Demographic and Health Survey, 2018).
Experts identify life skills education as key to protecting adolescent girls, reducing violence and empowering them to be able to cope with the daily challenges of life as young girls.
According to Fatima Aliyu, a life skill coach in Sokoto, focusing on life skills education builds the confidence, aspirations, and positive gender attitudes including informed decisions as well as equipping girls to negotiate for their needs and desires, thereby helping them build strong social support networks.
“By acquiring these skills, adolescent girls will be better equipped to protect themselves from abuse and make informed decisions about their lives,” she said.
AGILE aims to make this assertion work in Sokoto by providing adolescent girls with life skills coaching, mentorship, and a safe space to share their experiences through the Safe Spaces project under Save the Child Initiative.
According to the life skills component lead of AGILE, Mairo Rabi’u Sheriff, the program will target girls within the adolescent age, with focus on building their confidence, self-esteem and awareness.
It also provides them with the knowledge needed in adulthood, including menstrual hygiene, post and prenatal care.
“We want to empower these girls to take control of their lives in a meaningful way, make informed decisions, and become agents of change in their communities,” Sheriff remarked.
Through the Safe Spaces project, STCI will train 62,846 across 1000 communities in Sokoto State.
“These spaces provide a conducive environment for girls to learn, share, and grow,” she added.
In his publication on ‘Impact of school-based life skills for adolescent girls’, Professor Eric Edmonds said school-based life skills classes can change attitudes, strengthen social connections, and help girls assert more control over their lives while staying in school.
To that effect, Rabiu Bello Gandi, head of Migration, Mobility and Protection of STCI, in an interview, stated that the project which has a duration of two years, will target 17,145 girls as beneficiaries in the first year and 45, 719 In the second year.
“The beneficiaries will be drawn from schools in the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.
“We are expecting a significant increase in the number of girls who will be confident enough to protect themselves and be able to cope with different life experiences by the end of the projects.
“Life skills is a paramount skill that each individual needs to acquire for navigating through life effectively; it’s not just a skill but its effect can be seen in both their academic performance and overall well-being,” Gandi said.
Executive Secretary, Female Education Board in the state, Professor Mustapha Namakka Tukur, said creating safe spaces for adolescent girls is crucial in breaking the cycle of low self esteem and enhancing their literacy.
“We’re committed to ensuring that every adolescent girl in Sokoto State has access to a safe space where she can interact with her peers and get the necessary skills under the watch of an experienced mentor,” he said.
Tukur sees the empowerment of the girls as a way of building a brighter future for their communities and state.
He added that life skills education has a significant impact on girls in empowering them to build their self-esteem, improving decision-making abilities, enhancing communication skills, and enabling them to navigate challenges in their personal, social, and academic lives.
