By Frankwhite Nzeh
Nigeria’s First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, during the National Girls Interactive Session with Policy and Decision Makers to commemorate the 2023 International Day of the Girl Child, organized by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, UNFPA, and other partners, noted that the girl-child must be protected from all forms of violence with a safe and inclusive environment provided for them to thrive.
She averred that it is disheartening to know that girls still face discrimination, violence, and limited access to education and health care; adding that we must confront these issues by striving for a better, more equitable future for them.
“They are the leaders of today; therefore, it is high time we broke down the barriers that have held them back for long, and education is the key weapon that we must use to ensure that every girl is free from discrimination and intimidation.
According to her, education is the key weapon that must be used to ensure that every girl is free from discrimination and intimidation.
She stressed on the need to equip the girl-child with quality education to help them withstand societal challenges.
Mrs Tinubu gave this advice at the Maryam Babangida Women Development Centre on the commemoration of the 2023 International Day of the Girl-Child, themed “Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership and Our Well-Being.”.
She averred that education, is a cornerstone of empowerment, and we must ensure that every girl has the chance to learn and grow.
She said the day provided an opportunity for people to reflect on the challenges faced by girls in the country and to also celebrate their remarkable potential and resilience.
The First Lady advised the public to ensure that every girl had access to quality education to help set them free from any form of discrimination, be it religious, cultural, or traditional.
She further encouraged the adults to protect the girls from all forms of violence, adding that it is the collective duty of people to create a safe and inclusive environment for girls to thrive.
She said she has prioritised the girl-child issues under her NGO, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), to encourage the girl-child to achieve her potential and attain higher positions.
“Also, end gender-based violence, e.g., child labour, child trafficking, and child sex workers like baby factories; educate girls to speak out; and promote mentorship and role models that can encourage them to find their voices.’’
The First Lady also acknowledged that the girls were the change-makers, the innovators, and the dreamers, who, if given the chance, would reshape the world positively.
She, however, encouraged all Nigerian children, especially the girls, to dream big and positively.
Similarly, the Minister for Women Affairs, Barr. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, noted that the Federal Government is more committed to ensuring that harmful and discriminatory practices against the girl child are totally eliminated. The 2023 International Day of the Girl Child has the theme “Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership & Our Well-being.
The high level even had major stakeholders and decision makers grace the occasion through the supportive effort of UNFPA and other stakeholders.
