By; RABILU ABUBAKAR, Gombe
The Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) in Gombe State has convened a consultation meeting with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to explore strategies for enhancing disability inclusion within its programs.
During the meeting on Tuesday, Dr. Amina Haruna Abdul, the Gombe State Coordinator of AGILE, emphasized the importance of stakeholder input in strengthening the inclusion of people with disabilities, particularly in the areas of education and economic empowerment. She reassured participants that their feedback would play a key role in shaping AGILE’s future work plans.
Dr. Abdul also raised concerns over the widespread use of adolescent girls for farm labor, which she said significantly hinders their access to education in the state.
The session saw active contributions from individuals with disabilities, who advocated for increased representation of females with disabilities in AGILE’s initiatives. They highlighted the challenges women and girls with disabilities face, including dual discrimination due to their physical impairments and limited access to education.
Participants urged AGILE to focus on economic empowerment initiatives for females with disabilities, arguing that financial independence would enable more of them to attend school, ultimately improving educational outcomes for the entire state.
