NGO tasks women on adult education
Anon-governmental organisation, Empowering Women for Excellence Initiative, has called on the women who missed going to school at a younger age to endeavour to enroll in adult education and other skills acquisition programmes.
Speaking in Kaduna at a capacity building workshop on gender based violence, organised for social welfare workers, the Programme Officer, Administration and Logistics, Joy Anthony, said violence against women was often escalated by the lack of education of the women/girlchild.
“Up till now the level of women’s education in Nigeria is still very poor compared to their male counterpart. This is one of the factors that lead to increase in violence against women. We encourage women to go into skills acquisition, agriculture, trade and anything that will uplift them economically and make them less dependent on other people.
She said: “They can learn to make soaps, detergent, beads and even bake cakes, among other things. For no reason should a woman lazy about or remain idle.
“Going into enterprising ventures will not only make them self-sustaining and alleviate their sufferings but will also reduce the violence perpetuated against them. Besides, we are advising women to go to school.
“If they missed going to school when they were young, they can undertake adult education lessons in their communities. It is never too late to go to school and schooling has a way of reflecting positively and boosting any venture one undertakes. It will also boost their understanding in terms of fundamental rights and privileges.”
Anthony called on the government to formulate policies and set up structures that will embolden adult education, adding that cultural and religious factors should also be taken into consideration so that such educational policies targeted at women can be in line with societal values.
“The programmes we organise for women enlighten them and make them more reformed. It also enhances their involvement in decision making in the society and in Nigeria as a whole. In all of these, education of the women is a fundamental thing that can bring about sustainable result in women empowerment. That is why we are saying that even if a woman misses education at a tender or adolescent age, she should not miss it in her adulthood or even old age.”