The Adda Girl Education Foundation has raised alarm over the increasing rate at which school-age girls are being used as farm labourers in Gombe State, a practice locally known as barema, warning that the trend could hamper the state’s development in the near future.
Speaking on Thursday, the Programme Coordinator of the foundation, Abubakar Abdullahi, lamented the impact of barema on vulnerable girls across communities.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that the Girls’ Summit was organised by the foundation in partnership with the Development Exchange Centre, with funding support from Bread for the World.
He said, “This summit is part of the Girls Lead Advocacy Project (GLAP), which aims to reduce the prevalence of barema (farm labour among girls) in Malam Jamo and Gamadadi communities of Akko Local Government Area.
“Through this project, 20 in-school girls from Government Comprehensive Day Secondary School, Akko, have been trained in advocacy, communication, leadership, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and life skills.
“These girls will present their advocacy messages directly to stakeholders during the summit. Additionally, 20 barema girls have been incorporated into the project, engaging in monthly peer learning cycles with their in-school counterparts. Both groups are guided by female mentors through monthly coaching and mentoring sessions, fostering confidence, resilience, and leadership.”
Chairman of the Gombe Network of Civil Society, Ibrahim Yusuf, lauded the government for enacting enabling laws but stressed the need for proper oversight.
“We really appreciate having the law in the state, but one thing that is missing is the oversight function of the State Assembly to ensure that all the provisions of the laws are implemented and observed,” he said.
He described the practice as a calamity.
“On the issue of barema and out-of-school children, the state government is doing its best, but we need more proactive measures than what is currently happening. More needs to be done. All hands must be on deck to address this issue because it has become a serious concern.
“When the rainy season starts, you see a lot of girls who have stopped going to school standing by the roadside, waiting for anyone, without knowing who will take them to the farmlands for just N2,000 or N5,000 a day. Parents often do not know what happens to them in the bush,” he decried.
The member representing Kaltungo West in the Gombe State House of Assembly and Chairman, House Committee on Human Affairs and Special Duties, Gabriel Galadima, said the Assembly is attentive to the concerns of the people.
“The Gombe State Assembly is a people’s assembly. We are listening to complaints, and our ears are on the ground to hear what people are crying for. The Child Protection Law and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act are already in place in the state,” he said.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Asma’u Iganus, represented by the Director of Child Development, Amladi Jacob, described the summit as timely and important.
“The Honourable Commissioner has been actively addressing the issue of barema. Last year, advocacy visits were made to traditional rulers on the issue. She is working tirelessly to ensure the practice is stopped,” she said.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr Aishatu Maigari, represented by the Director of Sports, Health and Extra-Curricular Activities, Lami Garkuwa, also decried the impact of barema on girls.
“I hope more people will support efforts to end this practice in Gombe State. Those here should take the message to others who need to hear it. No girl-child deserves to be used as cheap labour,” she said.
A participating student, Aisha Adamu, an SS3 student of Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Akko, expressed gratitude to the organisers.
“We were taught to lead and speak in public. As you know, barema is dangerous to girls. They cannot realise their future by going to farmlands without education,” she said.
Adamu further disclosed that some girls work long hours for as little as N1,500 to N2,000.
“They can make between N1,500 and N2,000 and work from 6 a.m. until 1 a.m. the next day,” she added.
