Gender Awareness Trust (GAT), an NGO, on Monday said it had trained no fewer than 149 youths, religious and traditional leaders on adolescent girls initiative.

The Project Officer, Miss Tida Leo, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

Leo said Collective Action for Adolescent Girls Initiative (CAAGI) is a Christian Aid funded project.

“The initiative is aimed at improving the choices and opportunities of adolescent girls in Northern Nigeria.’’

She said 58 were trained on gender advocacy, 40 on Child Right Act and 51 are faith actors and dialogue forum.

She said the project is implemented by Gender Awareness Trust (GAT) and Development and Peace Initiative (DPI) in 12 communities across the three senatorial districts of the state.

Leo said GAT also met with CSOs to review the draft Child Right Act.

“We also commemorated the International Day of the African Child,’’ she said.

According to her, CAAGI partners, on June 16 organised a quiz, press conference and launched the Hausa version of the Faith Leader’s Toolkit known as “Inganta yin zabi da bada dama ga yan mata masu matsakaitan shekarau kundin aiki ga shugabanin addini’.

“This was developed by both Christian and Muslim faith leaders in addressing AG issues of early marriage, lack of education and economic empowerment.

“Also to aid community level faith leaders in their campaign for improved choices and opportunities for AGs.

“In commemorating the day, 15 girls from Kujama and Rido Hausa, members of a safe space called Gender Empowerment And Organising Resources (GEADOR), called on the Kaduna State Government to provide children especially the girls with opportunities to live productive and meaningful lives in Nigeria.

“We also appeal to Kaduna government to delay the time for marriage by improving her access to education/economic empowerment through its various scholarship and entrepreneurship programmes such as KADSTEP and N-Power.

“We call Muslim and Christian faith leaders to influence the attitude of their congregation by increasing their understanding and awareness about the issues of time of marriage, education and access to economic empowerment by using scriptural evidence.

“We appeal to the Kaduna State government and private organisations to put in place legal frameworks and codes of conduct such as the Child Rights Act to ensure the safety and welfare of children in the state address and punish perpetrators,’’ Leo said.

Besides, she called on parents to train their children properly giving them the needed support to their development and wellbeing

She also appealed to the general public to improve communal responsibility for protection and fostering children’s healthy development.

“Remember that children’s rights are human rights,” she said.