In Sokoto, cultural norms often prioritize boys’ economic opportunities over girls’, significantly limiting the economic independence of young women. These traditions restrict access to skills development, making it challenging for girls to achieve financial self-reliance.
This year’s International Day of the Girl Child, themed “Girls’ Vision for the Future,” highlights the ongoing fight for gender equality and the promotion of girls’ rights worldwide.
In line with these efforts, the Editorial and Publicity Group (EPG) of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Sokoto, organized a one-day skill acquisition program at Yahaya Abdulkarim Government Girls Day Secondary School, Gwiwa Low-Cost, Sokoto.
The event aimed to empower schoolgirls with practical skills for self-sufficiency, offering hands-on training in popcorn production, from raw material preparation to product packaging.
“It’s time for you to embrace self-reliance. You can’t continue to depend on your parents or husbands. That’s why we chose your school, to guide you towards economic independence,” said Fadlillah Abdallah, president of EPG.
The lead trainer, Zeniat Malik, encouraged the students to take the training seriously as a stepping stone to future success. “By next week, I hope you’ll start taking popcorn to local shops for sale on commission,” Malik added.
For many of the students, this was their first exposure to a practical skill that could lead to financial gain. One participant expressed her excitement, saying, “I’m thrilled to have learned how to make popcorn for profit. It’s a business I can start with small capital, and I owe it all to the NYSC Sokoto team.”
In celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child, the Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, emphasized the need for better decision-making to improve the lives of young girls across Nigeria.
He also encouraged girls to believe in their abilities and work together to challenge societal norms.
The principal of the school, Mrs. Muhammad Murjanatu, represented by the head of the Home Economics Department, Mrs. Salma Usman Saheed, thanked the corps members for selecting their school for this impactful program.
The NYSC members concluded by urging the school’s administration and other authorities to support similar initiatives that promote self-reliance among girls.
