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International Women�s Day was celebrated at Fumbisi, Builsa South District in the Upper East Region on Friday with the award of scholarships to 25 needy but brilliant girl. The scholarships were under the �Connect to Learn� scholarship programme of Savannah Accelerated Development Authority/ Millennium Village Project (MVP). The event was on the theme: �If you educate a man you educate an individual but if you educate a girl you educate a whole nation.� The students would be pursuing various areas of their studies in Wulugu Senior High School (SHS) and Walewale SHS in West Mamprusi District in the Northern Region and Bolgatanga, Navrongo, Sandema and Fumbisi SHSs in the Upper East Region. Mr James Sumbo, Team leader of MVP said the project being implemented for the next five years in the two regions is under the sponsorship of UK Department For International Development. It is meant to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals that targets the reduction of poverty, improving food security and increased access to education is achieved. Out of a total amount of 12,500 dollars, each of the award winners received 500 dollars for the payment of their school fees for two years. They are also being supported to establish Information Communication Centre learning centres. Mr Sumbo said emphasis on mainstreaming gender in all aspects of MVP was critical to ensure the discovery of the full potential of the girl- child. He added that as part of MVP education programme, 2000 dual desks and teachers desks would be provided to schools in the catchment areas in West Mamprusi, Moaduri in Yagba and Builsa North. He said MVP also had plans to support 300 boys and 300 girls in their various levels of educational pursuit. Mr Sumbo said 10 motor bikes have been donated to community health centres in the project areas to facilitate their work whilst 15 tractors were also distributed to support women in land preparation. Ms Teresa Baveng, Gender Officer, indicated that apart from ensuring that all programmes were gender mainstreamed, MVP also run women and girls along activities to empower them to improve their lives. She said problems confronting the growth of women include land and property ownership as well as low resource for them to carry out farming and irrigational activities. Mr Norbert Awulley, District Chief Executive called for a reflection on the important roles women play in the society and the need to treat them as special since they formed majority of the population. He advised parents to give their girl- children equal support and attention. Ms Cynthia Alhassan, an award winner thanked MVP on behalf of her colleagues for the support and assured them of learning to reach higher heights.