Mothers in Durum village urged to send girl children to school, stop hawking

Parents, especially mothers in Durum village, Bauchi LGA of Bauchi State, have been urged to allow their girl children go to School for a better and brighter future.

The call was made by the Sarkin Durum Community, Alh Nasiru Mohammed Durum, while addressing women in his palace during the celebration of the 2026 International Women’s Day organised by the State chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), held on Thursday.

The Traditional ruler decried the habit of parents not sending their female children to go to School but rather sending them to hawk.

He stressed that most parents have neglected the education of the Girl-child and relegated her to the background only as a source of income not minding her future.

According to him, “Women have a great influence on what the Girl-child becomes in life because she is close to you. Treat her to become a better woman tomorrow. I am not saying that the Girl-child should not assist, but, her education should be paramount.”

He added that many girls have been molested and violated by men who do not have the fear of God in them in the process of hawking urging mothers to ensure that their female children returned home early in the day.

He stressed that as a traditional ruler, he is doing everything possible to ensure that women have say in the development of the society through the various means of livelihoods.

The Traditional ruler stated that recently, he was instrumental to bring a women’s group on farming to the community which taught women how to engage in farming activities for sustainable economic growth and development.

He however lamented that due to lack of literate women in the community, only a few of them are benefiting from the programme stressing the importance of education of the women.

Nasiru Mohammed Durum added that, “We are very strict on issues of gender violence against women particularly the Girl-child, we don’t take any form of violence lightly, we ensure that justice was always done, no matter how long it takes.”

He called on the women to rise up to their rights, ensure that they attend hospital during pregnancy and give birth in the facility in order to ensure safe skilled birth delivery.

According to him,”Accessing quality healthcare services is the right of women but it is painful that our women don’t go to the facility, it is always available and the workers are ready to attend to you.”

“Please, I am appealing to the Women in this community to rise up to the occasion and ensure that they acted based on their rights. Go to the hospital for medical attention, put eyes on the activities of your female children.”

He then commended NAWOJ and its leadership for choosing the community for the celebration of the 2026 International Women’s Day, saying that it is a moment they will not forget.

In his brief charge, an Islamic Cleric, stressed that Islam outlined rights of women in the society just as it bestowed on them, certain roles.

According to him, Islam does not deny Women access to quality education and heath services, he stressed that they have the right to go to the hospital to seek medical attention when sick even if the husband is not around.

He further states that Islam promotes giving women education to be able to perform the Islamic rites appropriately urging the women present to take positives from the meeting.

Also speaking, a Christian religious woman, corroborated what the Islamic cleric said stressing that Christianity does not burden women but gives them opportunity to be part of the decision making in the family.

She further stressed that Christianity encourages women to seek knowledge by going to school as well as access quality healthcare services at the hospital.

According to her, women have no reason whatsoever to be at the background but are expected to be in the forefront of a good family which will translate to a better society.

Some of the women expressged appreciation for the programme which they said had widened their scope about rights, justice and actions available to women as partners in the department of the society.

The celebration was organised by NAWOJ with sponsorship from the Bauchi Field Office of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).