Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment, AGILE, has signed memorandum of Understandings, MOUs, with thirty Non Governmental Organizations, NGOs, in Ekiti State for effective service delivery.
The memorandum of understandings which were signed in Ado Ekiti by the representatives of the selected NGOs and Ekiti State government will assist AGILE to extend its antenna across the sixteen local governments of the state in promotion of Girl Child Education.
Speaking during the signing of the MOU, the Permanent Secretary, Ekiti State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi explained that the purpose of the MOU is to ensure that parties are committed to their duties and obligations as spelt out in the Ekiti State Gender Based Violence Prohibition Law 2019.
Dr Olomojobi noted that the obligations of AGILE under the supervision of Ekiti State Ministry of Education Science and Technology is to facilitate enabling environment in all schools in the state for the realization of goals & objectives of the project.
The Permanent Secretary noted that the state government under the leadership of Governor Biodun Oyebanji placed more value on the right of citizens, hence the need for the signing of the MOU.
She urged female students to report cases of bullying, attempted rape and rapists to the School Principal or Gender desk officers of schools immediately.
“Ensure that School authorities assign monitoring/supervisory roles to teachers, prefects and parents in the prevention of GBV.
“Ensure that Principals create Anti-GBV Clubs in schools and prevent illegal entry into their schools and take responsibilities for the security of their school premises.”
Speaking on legal backing of the MOU, a legal practioner, Mr Clement Ayoola charged the NGOs to abide by the AGILE principle and work to check any form of gender based violence and other acts that could affect girl child in Ekiti state.
His word: “The obligation of the OCR is expected that quarterly report should be submitted, there should be a way of assessing the performances at the quarterly or yearly for further recommendations.”
Mr Ayoola therefore urged the NGOs to get approval from AGILE before embarking on any project.
Also, the Permanent Secretary, Ekiti State Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Sola Adeluyi said the programme would create awareness for girl child in Ekiti state on their rights and the need to report any violence against them to appropriate quarters.
In a remark, representative of the NGOs, Professor Christopher Oluwadare promised the readiness of other members to work with AGILE to promote girl child education and prevent gender based violence against them.