The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) is set to launch the Girl Child Education Volunteers’ Advocates (GICEVA) program, aimed at boosting girl-child education across the country. This initiative will be introduced during the International Conference on Girl Child Education, scheduled for October 10-11, 2024, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Empowering Communities for Girl-Child Education

GICEVA is designed to mobilize volunteers through the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Community Development Service (CDS) Groups to advocate for increased girl-child enrollment across local governments in Nigeria. Dr. Ebenezer Leo, Head of Education at the NGF, described the program as a grassroots solution to address the challenges of girl-child education, stating, “By involving youth corps members, we aim to build a strong network of advocates who can drive meaningful change at the community level.”

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The two-day event, themed “Girl Child Empowerment Through Quality Education,” will also introduce the Face of the Girl Child Ambassadors program, which celebrates academic achievements among female graduates, empowering them to promote education for girls in their states.

Key Features of the GICEVA Initiative

  1. Volunteer Mobilization: Engaging NYSC members and CDS groups to advocate for girl-child education.
  2. Advocacy Training: Equipping volunteers with the necessary skills to effectively promote this cause.
  3. Community Outreach: Encouraging increased enrollment of girls in schools across Nigeria’s local governments.
  4. Stakeholder Collaboration: Partnering with education officials, development organizations, and donor agencies to strengthen girl-child education efforts.

The event will also see state Commissioners of Education signing a declaration committing to support and fund girl-child education up to Senior Secondary School. This declaration, in partnership with global organizations, signifies a collective effort to bridge educational inequalities.

Dr. Leo emphasized, “Through GICEVA and other initiatives, we are not just discussing change—we are actively driving it. By empowering volunteers and building a network of advocates, we can significantly improve girl-child enrollment and retention across the country.”