The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Mrs. Olanrewaju Bake has advocated increased awareness and empowerment of girls through education, economic and social support, and psychological tools to address the challenges of female children in the country.
She stated this at a conference jointly organised by a Non Governmental Organization, Chidimma and Havilah Foundation in collaboration with Seed of Praise Centre for Youth, Women, and Children Development Initiative to commemorate this year’s International Day of Girls’ Child at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) press centre
Mrs Bake who emphasized that achieving freedom from societal exploitation for girls remains unattainable without adequate education and awareness listed the girls’ child exploitation as poverty, gender discrimination, societal and religious limitations and rape among others.
The Permanent Secretary, represented by a Director in the ministry, Mrs. Victoria Funmilayo, outlined the many challenges facing girls worldwide, such as poverty, illiteracy, gender discrimination, religious and societal limitations, and sexual violence.
“Poverty is one of the most significant barriers confronting girls. It often forces families to keep their daughters at home for domestic chores or hawking instead of sending them to school. In Nigeria, social and gender norms place a low value on girls’ education, leading to a preference for boys. Cultural practices also pose significant risks to the girl child”, Mrs. Bake said.
She further explained that many adolescent girls are forced to drop out of school and enter early marriages, while issues like sexual harassment and rape remain widespread.
Other speakers at the event, including the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Mrs. Saadat Kawu, and Mrs. Blessing Aina from the Federal Information Centre, Ilorin, encouraged girls to work towards making their lives meaningful and called on education stakeholders to envision a future where girls are valued, educated, and given leadership opportunities.
In his keynote address, the Secretary of the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mallam Mahmood xxx Alaya, said obstacles to girls’ education such as inadequate infrastructure, safety concerns, and financial barriers required increased media engagement to expose the challenges and hold the government accountable for improving conditions.
Alaya also criticized the exploitation of girls as house-helps and for prostitution, calling for media-led advocacy through interviews with decision-makers and community leaders to promote reforms and investments in girls’ education.
“The media can play a crucial role in promoting adolescent girls’ formal education by influencing public opinion and advocating for policy changes. With increased visibility, we can drive progress to ensure every girl, regardless of background, has the opportunity to learn and contribute meaningfully to society”, Alaya said.
In his speech delivered virtually, the National Technical Lead of the Chidimma and Havilah Foundation, Mr. Tiwatope Olumide, who praised the initiative for hosting Kwara’s first-ever adolescent girls’ conference, stressed that education remains the most powerful tool to break social norms and gender barriers, including poverty.
Mr. Olumide commended the First Lady of Kwara State, Ambassador Olufolake Abdulrazaq, for her commitment to supporting girls’ education, highlighting how investments in girls have a positive ripple effect, reducing poverty, infant mortality, early marriages, and gender-based violence.
He therefore called for concerted efforts across all sectors to improve the lives and futures of girls in Kwara State.
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