By Our Correspondent
Wife of the Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun has called for immediate action to amplify girls' voices, towards ensuring their protection, respect and empowerment.
Mrs. Abiodun made the call during the year 2024 International Day of the Girl-Child, with the theme, “Girls' Vision For the Future”, at June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.
She said it was imperative to support the cause of the girl-child to secure her future, in line with this year's theme, stressing that the female gender should not be deprived of access to education, health care and protection against violence.
The wife of the Governor reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to the right of the girl- child in the state, given the achievements recorded recently with the efforts of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to curb Gender-Based Violence (GBV), while ensuring equality.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Adijat Adeleye, restated government’s efforts at ensuring that every girl is valued, respected and given the opportunities she deserves, noting that the roles play by female in building a prosperous and sustainable society cannot be over-emphasised.
“The leadership of Prince Dapo Abiodun has consistently demonstrated unwavering support for girls in the state, through various empowerment programmes for girls, by extending free scholarships to 1,000 girls, giving them the opportunity to enroll in technical colleges across the state, so as to learn valuable skills, such as, Agricultural Mechanics, Electrical Installations, Motor Vehicle Mechanics, and areas traditionally dominated by men and to encourage them to speak out against (GBV), while ensuring that every girl finds her voice and knows her worth”, she said.
In their separate goodwill messages, Commissioner for Health, Dr.Tomi Coker; Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Affairs, Chief (Mrs.) Ayotunde Lawal; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mariam Oloko, charged every girl-child not to feel inferior and be intimidated because of their gender, while relevant stakeholders were charged to reflect on how to support all girls in the state and the nation at large to make their vision and dreams a reality, as well as make them to be good leaders and trail blazers.
On her part, representative of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Mrs. Abigail Msemburi, urged stakeholders to support in amplifying the role of the girl-child, ability to drive change, promising that UNFPA was committed to ensuring girls achieve their future potentials.
In her presentation, a guest lecturer, Mrs. Wemimo Adebiyi, charged every girl-child to be determined in actualising their dreams, be agents of change, speak up for their rights and shun social vices.
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