The Federal Government has expressed concern over the rate at which young girls drop out of school, especially in rural areas due to unwanted pregnancy.
The theme of the event was, ‘Advancing the role of women in nuclear energy and radiation applications.’
The acting Director, Women Development, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Funke Oladipo, on the sidelines of the inauguration of ‘Women in Nuclear,’ said an estimated at 10 to 15 per cent girls drop out of school in the country due to unwanted pregnancies.
She said, “Out-of-school girls constitute between 10 and 15 per cent because of unwanted pregnancies, particularly in rural areas. If you look at the National Demographic Health Survey, the rate of drop-out for girls is one of the issues that were discussed, but we are improving.”
Oladipo added that one of the mandates of the Ministry of Women Affairs was to work with the Ministry of Education to ensure bring back out-of-school girls to classes.
The interim President of Women in Nuclear, Nigeria, Mrs Chigoziri Nwakanma, said the organisation would encourage young girls to take up courses in science and technology education.
“We intend to use this platform to encourage young girls to take up courses in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics which will lead to careers in nuclear energy and radiation application as well as pursue initiatives that raise awareness on the importance of gender parity in the area of nuclear energy and radiation application,” Nwakanma said.
