The Emir of Zazzau, Dr Shehu Idris on Thursday canvassed more support for girl-child education, saying it is necessary for societal development.
The monarch made the remark when an NGO, Arewa Youth Trust Foundation paid him a courtesy call in his palace in Zaria, Kaduna State.
The Emir said: โit is of course true, if you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman you educate the society, because she is a mother and the first teacher of a child.
โMother is a pace setter, foundation and pillars upon which children build their entire live, therefor, if she is educated, she will make sure she raise educated children, thereby liberating and emancipating the society from ills of illiteracy.โ
He urged parents to encourage their children including the girl-child to pursue both western and Islamic education for the benefit of not only their immediate family but also the society.
Idris pledged his total support to individuals and groups holistically involved in promoting girl-child education, and in addressing the welfare of orphans and fighting drug abuse.
He lauded the efforts of the Arewa Youth Trust Foundation at sensitising and creating awareness in the areas of health, education, peace building, social investment and advocacy on policies.
โI am impressed by your gigantic efforts at designing and executing programmes that educate the youths to become useful to themselves and the society.
โThese are important and laudable programmes that would give the youths a sense of direction and a sense of hope for a brighter future,โ the emir said.
The NGO had organised series of sensitisation campaigns covering education, health, economy and peace building among others aimed at transforming the youths.
Earlier, Chairman of the Foundation, Alhaji Fahad Ahmed-Chikaji told the emir that they were in his palace to thank him for accepting to be the Grand Patron of the organisation.
โYour Royal Highness, we are here to seek royal blessing and to thank you for accepting to be the Grand Patron of our noble NGO, we are indeed grateful.
โWe also want to use this medium to highlight some of our activities which include; promoting girl-child education, assisting the orphans, fight against drug abuse and advocacy campaign against some diseases among others.โ
Ahmed-Chikaji promised that the foundation would sustain the series of programmes it runs for the benefit of youths, society and the nation at large.
