Due to their involvement in mineral exploration and other activities within the value chain, mining communities are still seeing an increase in the number of children who are not attending school in search of fast cash. This statement was made in a report containing the Overview of the Nigerian Mining Sector Gender Strategy. It was made by a specialist consultancy that offers organizational development, leading change, organizational culture and coaching, N&G Consulting firm Ltd. Ngozichi Okorie, the project manager, made this statement in Abuja on May 1, 2024.
Ms. Okorie noted that the challenges faced by women in Nigeria are often a direct result of the consequences of mining activities taking place in the country. The research is being conducted as part of the federal government’s initiative to advance the Nigerian Mining Industry through the promotion of gender equality and increased involvement of women, in line with the ‘Roadmap for the Growth and Development of the Nigerian Mining Industry’. Dele Alake, the Minister in charge of Solid Minerals Development, revealed the plan during a presentation on April 30, 2024.
Mining operations have a greater impact on women and children.
Also, the report brought attention to the challenges faced by mining communities, such as child labour and the lack of access to education. It showed that mining operations had a greater impact on women and children compared to other groups in the community. The effects of mining on women are significantly greater than on men, with increased responsibilities, conflicts, rights violations, health impacts, and incidents of gender-based violence, according to the statement. The report highlighted how women, despite being the most impacted, frequently found themselves left out of discussions when it came to mining-related matters.
It emphasized that this exclusion was a widespread issue, calling it systemic discrimination. The list of concerns encompassed a range of topics, such as the approval of local residents for mining project development, land accessibility, financial compensation, royalties, and advantages offered through the community development agreement. In the research, it was observed that women’s ability to fully engage in the sector was being impeded at the community level due to inadequate education, awareness, skill development, and training opportunities.
10.5 million children in Nigeria, aged 5-14, are not enrolled in school.
In order to effectively execute the gender strategy, it is advised to allocate sufficient resources towards training the implementation team, creating initiatives for implementation, involving stakeholders, and forming partnerships. Despite the mandate for free and mandatory primary education, a staggering 10.5 million children in the country, aged 5-14, are not enrolled in school. Attendance rates for primary education show that only 61 percent of children aged 6-11 attend regularly, while a mere 35.6 percent of children aged 3-5 years receive early childhood education.
Furthermore, in the northern region, the situation looks grim, with only 53 percent of students attending school. Reintegrating children who are not in school back into the education system is a daunting task. Just like how geography and poverty play a role, gender is a significant aspect affecting the trend of educational exclusion. In the north-eastern and north-western states, the attendance rates for female primary schools are quite low, at 47.7 percent and 47.3 percent respectively. This indicates that over half of the girls in these regions are not attending school.
Related Article: 20k Schools Needed for out-of-school Kids
Lack of access to education in northern Nigeria is influenced by a combination of economic hurdles and societal traditions that hinder enrollment in traditional schooling, with a particular emphasis on limiting opportunities for girls. It is a challenging task to provide education in rural areas and deal with the effects of insurgency in the northeast. In the north-eastern and north-western states, a significant percentage of Muslim children, 29% and 35% respectively, receive Qur’anic education without learning essential skills like reading and math. These children are categorized as officially out-of-school by the government.
Related Link
UNICEF: Website
