NGO Sensitises 500 Pupils On Digital Rights In Kaduna State
A Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO known as Kishimi Shelter and Care Foundation has sensitised more than 500 school children on digital rights in Kauru Local Government Area, LGA of Kaduna State.
During the sensitisation programme, the Executive Director of the Foundation, Mrs Grace Samuel said that the sensitisation was in commemoration of the 2023 International Day of the African Child.
Grace said that the event was organised in collaboration with Save the Children International, SCI, under the Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria, PLANE programme.
She said that the sensitisation was in line with this year’s theme, “The Rights of the Child in the Digital Environment”, to remind stakeholders of their duties toward protecting the rights of children.
She pointed out that the global digital revolution has significantly changed the world, and that no child should be left behind in the digital age while in search of education.
She explained that the Day of the African Child, being celebrated on June 16 of every year, brings global attention to the barriers faced by African children in their quest for quality education.
The Executive Director urged parents and caregivers to support, motivate and inspire their children to learn and acquire quality education for a better future.
She disclosed that the Foundation was working with stakeholders to tackle extreme poverty, which she described as a “huge barrier” to accessing quality education in Africa.
“We have established non-formal learning centers for internally displaced children, persons living with disabilities and facilitated educational support for 10,546 children across 4 LGAs in Gombe state.
“In Kaduna State, we are working with SCI under Window three of PLANE programme, to provide community support to learning programmes in six communities of Kauru LGA,” she said.
Mr Michael Oche, SCI’s Community Mobilisation Coordinator, under the PLANE programme said that collaboration with Kishimi Shelter and Care Foundation would ensure children’s access to quality education in the area.
Oche pointed out that the Covid-19 pandemic and poverty had pushed a lot of children out of school, particularly in rural communities, but that PLANE intends to reverse the situation.
One of the pupils, Hafsat Mohammed, who commended the organisers of the event, said that the knowledge on the advantages of digital technology in learning was quite helpful.
Mohammed called on the government and other stakeholders to support children to access their rights in the digital environment and tap from its numerous benefits.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Kauru LGA, Alhaji Bashir Dawaki who was represented by the Vice Chairman, Mr Augustine Baye commended the foundation and SCI for the support.
Dawaki lamented that the absence of electricity in the area would frustrate any attempt to expose children to digital learning and urged the State government to address the problem.
Mrs Hauwa Amwe, an official of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Kaduna State Wing, said most children in rural communities have been left behind in the digital age.
Amwe stressed the need to expose children to digital learning platforms for improved learning outcomes.
NAN/Confidence Okwuchi
