Jukun Women Group Poised To Tackle Girl Child Education
By Tanko Bauka
In an effort to break the barrier and limitations placed on the path of the girl child education by the society, a one day workshop has been held in the ancient city of Wukari, the administrative headquarters of Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State.
The workshop which was organized by a Jukun women organization is also to provide resources that will equip the girl child and empower them to find their voices and break away from every gender limitations placed on their paths.
It is a known fact that in both public and private spheres of life, women face occupational segregation and multiple barriers such as lack of access to land, capital and financial resources as well as gender based violence due to cultural mindsets and stereotypes.
Women often face discrimination, limited opportunities and lack of support when it comes to advancing their careers and it is believed that many of these limitations are self imposed.
Determined to change the narrative, a Jukun women organization organized a one day workshop to fine-tune possible ways on how to break the shackles of the many self imposed gender limitations that have hindered the rapid growth of the girl child in the area under a programme, tagged “Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, STEM.
Speaking during the workshop, the founder of the Jukun women organization, Mrs Favour Wazota Agbu said societal and cultural norms have seriously affected the academic progress of the girl child as many limitations placed on their paths seems to have severe effects on them.
Mrs Favour Wazota Agbu who spoke via a telecast, said she came up with STEM to encourage the girl child to diversify into the science and technology which before now were seen as the preserve of male students.
According to her, female students are lacking behind in science and technology and there is the need to breach the gap, saying gone are the days when women are relegated to the background.
She added that many women have now found their voices and are competing favourably with their man counterpart in the technology sector.
She tasked the female students in this part of the world to take full advantage of the programme to excel in their areas of educational specialization.
Also speaking, the organizing officer of the group, Dorcas Elisha said the workshop was aimed at exposing the female students to science, technology, engineering and Mathematics, STEM to help them in breaking the barrier and limitations to their educational pursuits.
According to her, investigation has revealed that male students are more represented in the science and technology than the female students, encouraging the female students to join the STEM career programme to study any course of their choice not minding the limitations or barrier.
She sought for collaboration with relevant stakeholders in the educational sector and non profit organizations to create more awareness for the STEM career programme in their areas, assuring that the organization will continue to come up with positive programmes for the betterment of the female students.
Earlier, the Wukari local Government Education Secretary, Mr Daniel Yohanna Gambo Basuna commended the efforts of the Jukun women organization for organizing the workshop which he said is timely, assuring that the local government will key into the noble ideas to give the girl child their rightful place in the pursuit of education.
He encouraged the girl child to diversify into the areas of science and technology to contribute their quota to the technology world.
In her submission, the Provost, College of Health and Technology, Takum, Dr Wama Binga said the workshop is coming at the right time in view of the free education policy of the Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas.
She advised the female students to take full advantage of the free education policy by enrolling to study courses of their choice, pointing out that many of the limitations and barriers have already broken as women are now excelling in various areas of science and technology.
Some of the science students interviewed, express happiness and appreciation for the encouragement, promising to do their possible best to excel in their areas of educational specialization.
