The Federal Government, in collaboration with State governments and multi-level stakeholders has launched ‘LUMINAH 2030 Initiative’ aimed at tackling gender disparities in education, empowering women and girls, and driving sustainable development in Nigeria.
Spark News Naija reports that the ‘LUMINAH 2030 Initiative’ was unveiled by the Ministry of Education, on Tuesday at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking during the inaugural stakeholders engagement meeting with Commissioners of Education from twelve pilot States, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmad said the several challenges confronting girls’ education across the country would be addressed by the Initiative.
Prof. Ahmad said the Luminah 2030 is not just a vision but a movement to dismantle long-standing barriers such as poverty, cultural norms, and geographical isolation that have denied girls their fundamental right to education.
According to her, the Initiative will follow a structured phased approach: “The Root Phase, which is to empower mothers and caregivers with income-generating skills and financial literacy.
“The Stem Phase is providing foundational education to girls from aged 5 to 15. While the Bloom Phase is equipping adolescent girls with leadership, life, and vocational skills”.
This layered approach, she said, will uplift not just individual girls but entire households, communities, and ultimately the nation.
In her words, she said: “Let impact, not politics or convenience, guide your decisions, as the girls we seek to help are often hidden behind barriers of poverty, culture, and geography. We must actively seek them out and bring them into the light of opportunity, the Minister charged the members.
Prof. Ahmad urged the Commissioners of Education, members of the LUMINAH Secretariat, development partners and stakeholders to adopt fair and data-driven criteria when selecting target Local Government Areas.
Earlier, the head of Secretariat, LUMINAH 2030 Initiative, Mrs. Amina Buba Haruna, stated that the Initiative is designed to embody the collective ambition to build a future where no woman or girl is left behind, and where every community, rural and urban alike, have equal opportunity to thrive.
In an interview with journalists, the Lagos State Commissioner for Basic Education, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Ali-Balogun, and his Bayelsa State counterpart, Dr. Gentle E. Emelah applauded the Initiative.
According to Ali-Balogun, the Initiative will give another chance to the out of school girls to access academics and acquire skills.