Well this is not the post to learn about Abiriba History, but one where i would like to share my findings on the issues of the girl-child in Abiriba community. But before this, let me give you a little background:
The importance of girl-child
education cannot be over emphasized. The benefits spans generations.
But what happens when girl child education is somewhat being overlooked?? I mean, what happens when you have a rural populace of uneducated young women???
In any normal society,
Education is accepted as a tool to prestige, power, survival, greatness and
advancement for both men and women. And the development of any society will be
without balance if the girl child has no access to quality education.
There are several dimensions
to the girl-child problems all over the world today which can all be traced
down to customs, traditions and the typical societal mindset that places less
value on women and the girl-child.
This gender apartheid has
placed the girl-child in a disadvantaged position, where self-actualization is
not achieved and her potentials suppressed thus making her a victim of a
pre-existing socio cultural male chauvinism. The girl child is subjected to
multiple forms of oppression, discrimination and exploitation.
My research therefore examined the
problems and challenges of girl-child education in Abiriba Community. The study
adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population for the study
targeted all young girls in the community. However, a sample of 78 girls was
randomly drawn.
SOME OF THE GIRLS THAT TOOK PART IN THE SURVEY
SOME OF THE GIRLS THAT TOOK PART IN THE SURVEY
The study revealed that, the problems facing girl-child education in
Abiriba Community is not far from Ignorance, illiteracy, poverty, cultural
misconceptions, sexual abuse / teenage pregnancy, child labour etc
Abiriba currently is faced
with a high number of girls dropping out of school. Not only that the school
facilities are currently not in a conducive state for learning, for a community
that once boasted of its prestigious schools, but also the high decline of the
girl child in schools due to early pregnancy.
This has become a major
source of concern as we have a population explosion of young girls from age 7
upwards making babies.
And yes you read right, Age 7!!!. When i heard this, i was in shock too.
This ugly trend has caused a huge damage on the psyche
of the girl child and has truncated her zeal for education.
An average 19 year old in
Abiriba today already has a child or 2, and doesn’t see the need to get an
education anymore neither has she the means to cater for the child (children)
she has brought into the world. And lets not even get started on the age of consent debate or the unreported rape cases.
Furthermore, the lack of
access to proper antenatal care in the course of the pregnancies poses a
greater threat to the lives of these young girls.
So, back to the TITLE of this POST "CHI NA ENYE NWA" which means "GOD GIVES CHILDREN" is the name coined for the teenage mother's. I mean, its like an association of some sort and its no Joke.
How does one start explaining life to these young girls??
The problems of girl-child
education in Abiriba are not insurmountable. It only needs the willpower of the traditional rulers, parents, and well-meaning individuals’ to play critical
roles in arresting the situation. But our collective inability to curb
this menace by pragmatically campaigning and sensitizing the community on the
importance of girl child education and provide basic education and other
learning alternatives will continue to heighten the inequality and marginalization
of the girl-child in our society.
Here's an interview with one of the Teenage Mother's
The Challenge is on us to do right by these girls and we will not relent until the change we want is seen.
