How water threatens girl-child education in Kano – Daily Trust

For many years, residents of Dutsen Bakoshi village in Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State have been battling a long-standing water disaster that has left them struggling to entry clear water for every day family use, a scenario that has continued to threaten the group’s financial improvement. 

In a twisted destiny, not solely is the dearth of potable water threatening the event of the group, it has mockingly taken a unfavorable toll on the education of the girl-child as many younger women have been pressured to drop out of college attributable to their steady every day seek for water for his or her numerous households.

Findings by Weekend Trust confirmed that with a inhabitants of over 40,000 folks unfold throughout the 21 villages in the group, greater than half of the residents, principally farmers and their livestock, rely solely on seasonal dams that bear water solely throughout the wet season for his or her every day water wants.

Findings additionally confirmed that residents, particularly women of college age, battle a number of hurdles to get water throughout the dry season as entry to scrub, potable water stays a every day problem in the group. 

Dutsen Bakoshi group is known as after its legendary founder who reportedly found a big rock in the realm, which is a significant attribute of the group that can’t be missed by any customer in the realm. However, mockingly, this edifice, which is meant to be a plus in phrases of tourism for the group, is claimed to be one, if not the key issue chargeable for the water scarcity and generally lack of water in the realm.

Despite its measurement and the variety of surrounding villages, clear water stays a scarce necessity to return by in the group.

Weekend Trust’s go to to the group confirmed a group the place women of college age fetch water from out there earth dams throughout college hours, a sight that has turn into a norm in the group.

Malam Musa Isyaku, a resident in the group, defined what waking up every day in the group means, particularly for the girl-child. He famous that it means a continuation of every day wrestle in search of water. He defined that attributable to lack of water in the group, many youngsters, particularly their daughters, couldn’t absolutely attend college as a result of on a regular basis, they need to trek lengthy distances in search of water for home use, particularly throughout the dry season when the dams turn into dry.

“Every morning, our children have to leave in search of water; and you know that water is life. Every child has to ensure that his or her home has water for daily use before thinking of doing any other thing. This is our daily routine, especially during the dry season. Our children cannot afford to attend school fully because no matter what, they have to miss classes every day of the week. We are pleading with the government and anyone who can assist us to help bring an end to our suffering,” he mentioned.

Another resident, Malama Maryam Tijjani, mentioned earth dam had been their solely supply of water in the realm, and after it dries off throughout the dry season, the hurdle of getting water begins till one other wet season. According to her, though the earth dam water shouldn’t be clear, it has been the best means for them to get water for the group’s every day use.

“We are usually not oblivious of the truth that the out there water shouldn’t be clear for consumption however we don’t have a alternative. Our best making an attempt moments yearly is throughout the dry season as a result of water throughout that interval is the same as gold.

“Despite the fact that we have to use other means of water purification for the available water during the rainy season, as you can see, the water is still not clean. We use alum to treat it before we can use it,” Maryam mentioned. 

It was gathered that in dry season, members of the group cowl many kilometers earlier than they will get water, and people who can’t go to that extent depend on water distributors. A 25-litre container of water is offered at N500 for these that may afford it.

“A jerry can of 25 litres of water costs N500 during the dry season. This has put many families in this area under a lot of pressure. If you require 100 litres of water daily in your home, it means you need N2,000 daily for water, meaning that in a month, you will spend N60,000. This is what we have been going through, and that has made us to allow our children to fetch water for us despite the distance and the fact that they will miss school every day. We want our children in school but there’s hardly time. We are struggling to find both food and water,” Habiba Tijjani narrated.

‘Sad to see our daughters stop school for water’

Malama Asma’u Umar, a mom of 4, mentioned though as moms they hate it when their youngsters miss their lessons or cease going to highschool, that they had no possibility, particularly throughout the dry season because the seek for water is prime precedence for many households in the group, and as such, problems with education has no place.

“Our children, especially daughters, walk long hours to get us the water we will use. Not every family can afford to buy water from water vendors. The government should assist us to get water so that our children can go to school,” she pleaded.

One of the group leaders in the realm, who can also be a father, Malam Saidu Turaki, mentioned it’s unlucky that members of different communities blame them for his or her lack of ability to ship their youngsters to highschool, not realizing that the problem is deeply rooted in the group’s lack of water.

He defined that as mother and father, their want is to see that, like different youngsters in cities, theirs would additionally prosper in life by getting good educated. He known as on the authorities involved to, as a matter of urgency, come to assistance from their group by offering water.

“People often blame parents for their children not going to school, but it is mostly due to the water crisis, especially given our large population. We want our children to go places and make us proud as parents too, but we are faced with an issue that requires urgent attention from the government. We have done our best at the community level, but as you can see that our best is not enough,” he mentioned.

Malam Shuaibu Mustapha, a father of seven, famous that the group was properly knowledgeable on the significance of education however mentioned there’s equally a necessity for them to outlive as a household. According to him, water shortage in the group has turn into a problem they need to take care of, particularly throughout dry season. He known as on the state authorities to help the native authorities in establishing an alternate supply of water for the group.

‘Search for water hinders our education’

A 15-year-old Sadiqa Tijjani who lives along with her mother and father in the group stopped going to highschool from JSS2 as a result of accountability to go in search of water for her household. She informed Weekend Trust that she wished to go to highschool and examine however the seek for water each day, particularly throughout the dry season, posed a menace.

“Getting water is extremely difficult. It takes so much of our time. We can’t even go to school because during the dry season, there’s no water at all and we have to look for it to survive. Many girls like me are currently not in school because we have to look for water for our parents,” she mentioned.

Sayyada Abdu, one other 16-year-old woman who additionally stopped going to highschool at main 5, mentioned she actually missed research, including that the lengthy seek for potable water pressured her to desert her dream of getting good education.

She famous that many ladies in her group had since deserted college simply to help the household in search of water for his or her every day wants.

Reason for water scarcity

The ward head of Dutsen Bakoshi, Ibrahim Ahmed, defined that the dearth of potable water in the realm had its root in the group’s geographical location. According to him, findings confirmed that the realm lies beneath rocky plains that make it troublesome for households to dig wells for water provide. He added that people in the group had tried to drill boreholes however the activity was past their capability.

He pleaded with well-meaning Nigerians and the state authorities to return to assistance from the group by offering potable water for the folks.

Similarly, the councilor representing Dutsen Bakoshi, Abba Muhammad Idris, mentioned that on many events, the native authorities had made a number of makes an attempt to drill a borehole in the realm however their efforts saved failing due to its topography.

“The authorities has made a number of makes an attempt however our land is rocky. We have drilled as deep as 150 to 200 meters with out discovering water. This dam is our neFrom Abdulazeez Ibrahim, Kano

For many years, residents of Dutsen Bakoshi village in Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State have been battling a long-standing water disaster that has left them struggling to entry clear water for every day family use, a scenario that has continued to threaten the group’s financial improvement. 

In a twisted destiny, not solely is the dearth of potable water threatening the event of the group, it has mockingly taken a unfavorable toll on the education of the girl-child as many younger women have been pressured to drop out of college attributable to their steady every day seek for water for his or her numerous households.

Findings by Weekend Trust confirmed that with a inhabitants of over 40,000 folks unfold throughout the 21 villages in the group, greater than half of the residents, principally farmers and their livestock, rely solely on seasonal dams that bear water solely throughout the wet season for his or her every day water wants.

Findings additionally confirmed that residents, particularly women of college age, battle a number of hurdles to get water throughout the dry season as entry to scrub, potable water stays a every day problem in the group. 

Dutsen Bakoshi group is known as after its legendary founder who reportedly found a big rock in the realm, which is a significant attribute of the group that can’t be missed by any customer in the realm. However, mockingly, this edifice, which is meant to be a plus in phrases of tourism for the group, is claimed to be one, if not the key issue chargeable for the water scarcity and generally lack of water in the realm.

Despite its measurement and the variety of surrounding villages, clear water stays a scarce necessity to return by in the group.

Weekend Trust’s go to to the group confirmed a group the place women of college age fetch water from out there earth dams throughout college hours, a sight that has turn into a norm in the group.

Malam Musa Isyaku, a resident in the group, defined what waking up every day in the group means, particularly for the girl-child. He famous that it means a continuation of every day wrestle in search of water. He defined that attributable to lack of water in the group, many youngsters, particularly their daughters, couldn’t absolutely attend college as a result of on a regular basis, they need to trek lengthy distances in search of water for home use, particularly throughout the dry season when the dams turn into dry.

“Every morning, our children have to leave in search of water; and you know that water is life. Every child has to ensure that his or her home has water for daily use before thinking of doing any other thing. This is our daily routine, especially during the dry season. Our children cannot afford to attend school fully because no matter what, they have to miss classes every day of the week. We are pleading with the government and anyone who can assist us to help bring an end to our suffering,” he mentioned.

Another resident, Malama Maryam Tijjani, mentioned earth dam had been their solely supply of water in the realm, and after it dries off throughout the dry season, the hurdle of getting water begins till one other wet season. According to her, though the earth dam water shouldn’t be clear, it has been the best means for them to get water for the group’s every day use.

“We are usually not oblivious of the truth that the out there water shouldn’t be clear for consumption however we don’t have a alternative. Our best making an attempt moments yearly is throughout the dry season as a result of water throughout that interval is the same as gold.

“Despite the fact that we have to use other means of water purification for the available water during the rainy season, as you can see, the water is still not clean. We use alum to treat it before we can use it,” Maryam mentioned. 

It was gathered that in dry season, members of the group cowl many kilometers earlier than they will get water, and people who can’t go to that extent depend on water distributors. A 25-litre container of water is offered at N500 for these that may afford it.

“A jerry can of 25 litres of water costs N500 during the dry season. This has put many families in this area under a lot of pressure. If you require 100 litres of water daily in your home, it means you need N2,000 daily for water, meaning that in a month, you will spend N60,000. This is what we have been going through, and that has made us to allow our children to fetch water for us despite the distance and the fact that they will miss school every day. We want our children in school but there’s hardly time. We are struggling to find both food and water,” Habiba Tijjani narrated.

‘Sad to see our daughters stop school for water’

Malama Asma’u Umar, a mom of 4, mentioned though as moms they hate it when their youngsters miss their lessons or cease going to highschool, that they had no possibility, particularly throughout the dry season because the seek for water is prime precedence for many households in the group, and as such, problems with education has no place.

“Our children, especially daughters, walk long hours to get us the water we will use. Not every family can afford to buy water from water vendors. The government should assist us to get water so that our children can go to school,” she pleaded.

One of the group leaders in the realm, who can also be a father, Malam Saidu Turaki, mentioned it’s unlucky that members of different communities blame them for his or her lack of ability to ship their youngsters to highschool, not realizing that the problem is deeply rooted in the group’s lack of water.

He defined that as mother and father, their want is to see that, like different youngsters in cities, theirs would additionally prosper in life by getting good educated. He known as on the authorities involved to, as a matter of urgency, come to assistance from their group by offering water.

“People often blame parents for their children not going to school, but it is mostly due to the water crisis, especially given our large population. We want our children to go places and make us proud as parents too, but we are faced with an issue that requires urgent attention from the government. We have done our best at the community level, but as you can see that our best is not enough,” he mentioned.

Malam Shuaibu Mustapha, a father of seven, famous that the group was properly knowledgeable on the significance of education however mentioned there’s equally a necessity for them to outlive as a household. According to him, water shortage in the group has turn into a problem they need to take care of, particularly throughout dry season. He known as on the state authorities to help the native authorities in establishing an alternate supply of water for the group.

‘Search for water hinders our education’

A 15-year-old Sadiqa Tijjani who lives along with her mother and father in the group stopped going to highschool from JSS2 as a result of accountability to go in search of water for her household. She informed Weekend Trust that she wished to go to highschool and examine however the seek for water each day, particularly throughout the dry season, posed a menace.

“Getting water is extremely difficult. It takes so much of our time. We can’t even go to school because during the dry season, there’s no water at all and we have to look for it to survive. Many girls like me are currently not in school because we have to look for water for our parents,” she mentioned.

Sayyada Abdu, one other 16-year-old woman who additionally stopped going to highschool at main 5, mentioned she actually missed research, including that the lengthy seek for potable water pressured her to desert her dream of getting good education.

She famous that many ladies in her group had since deserted college simply to help the household in search of water for his or her every day wants.

Reason for water scarcity

The ward head of Dutsen Bakoshi, Ibrahim Ahmed, defined that the dearth of potable water in the realm had its root in the group’s geographical location. According to him, findings confirmed that the realm lies beneath rocky plains that make it troublesome for households to dig wells for water provide. He added that people in the group had tried to drill boreholes however the activity was past their capability.

He pleaded with well-meaning Nigerians and the state authorities to return to assistance from the group by offering potable water for the folks.

Similarly, the councilor representing Dutsen Bakoshi, Abba Muhammad Idris, mentioned that on many events, the native authorities had made a number of makes an attempt to drill a borehole in the realm however their efforts saved failing due to its topography.

“The government has made several attempts but our land is rocky. We have drilled as deep as 150 to 200 meters without finding water. This dam is our nearest source. Once it dries up, we walk for hours to get water or buy from vendors. The case is before the council and I am sure that something will be done soon,” he mentioned.

Govt’s effort

Also talking on the problem, the council chairman, Abubakar Barau Shanon, mentioned they have been making efforts to make sure that the group has entry to potable water. He mentioned the council was making an attempt to companion with the authorities in the state and different water-providing businesses to make sure that a long-lasting resolution to the water downside is offered.

“At the local government level, we plan to conduct another site survey this week. While we haven’t found a suitable location within the town, we identified a viable spot some distance away. Unfortunately, this means that people will have to go a little far distance to access it, so the water challenge within the town remains. Last year, during the dry season, those who attempted to use water for irrigation farming could not do so because the people and livestock needed the water,” he mentioned.arest supply. Once it dries up, we stroll for hours to get water or purchase from distributors. The case is earlier than the council and I’m certain that one thing might be executed quickly,” he mentioned.

Govt’s effort

Also talking on the problem, the council chairman, Abubakar Barau Shanon, mentioned they have been making efforts to make sure that the group has entry to potable water. He mentioned the council was making an attempt to companion with the authorities in the state and different water-providing businesses to make sure that a long-lasting resolution to the water downside is offered.

“At the local government level, we plan to conduct another site survey this week. While we haven’t found a suitable location within the town, we identified a viable spot some distance away. Unfortunately, this means that people will have to go a little far distance to access it, so the water challenge within the town remains. Last year, during the dry season, those who attempted to use water for irrigation farming could not do so because the people and livestock needed the water,” he mentioned.