The wife of the Governor of Oyo State, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde, has called on teachers, parents, caregivers and government to increase their commitment to eradicating the challenges hindering the growth, rights and future of the girl-child.
Mrs Makinde gave the advise at an event to commemorate the 2022 International Day of the Girl-child held at the House of Chiefs, House of Assembly Complex, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan, on Tuesday.
During the event celebrated annually on October 11 and themed: ‘Our time is now, our right and our future’, no fewer than six girls from different public secondary schools received brand new laptops and cash gifts from the governor’s wife.
Mrs Makinde called on teachers to see themselves as professional guardians and counsellors with huge responsibility in preparing the girls for the future.
She urged teachers and guardians not to relent in doing their part as the fight for the right of the girl-child is a continuum.
Mrs Makinde said: “I am apprehensive because the voice of the girl-child is not yet strengthened, heard enough or heard audibly. So our time to support the girl-child is now, to make her voice heard because she is the greatest legacy we will ever leave behind for our future.
“I want to re-emphasise that the time is of the essence, the right time to do the right thing is now. The right and the future of the girl-child must be protected and nurtured, otherwise our society will be left to bear the loss of amazing, talented young girls, if we do not join hands in this fight,” she said.
Girl-child as agents of change
In his address, the Commissioner for Education, Mr Abiodun Abdul-Rahman, urged the girl-child to constantly speak up against social vices, work hard and sacrifice their time now in order to have the future of their dreams.
He said: “The girl-child, as an agent of change, can profer solutions to various issues affecting our society. The girl-child must constantly speak up against female genital mutilation, child marriage and other social vices and refuse to engage in illegalities.”
Similarly, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs Kafila Olayiwola, urged the girl-child to always remain focused and be motivated to overcome challenges confronting them in their formative years.
She said: “You as a girl-child play multiple roles in the society and our economy. You as a girl-child have various rights surrounding you. In order to move on in life, always remain focused and always be motivated.”
The recipients of the free laptops include the best performing female students at the Junior West Africa Examination Council for year 2021 and 2022 who were selected from across the three senatorial districts of the state.
Emmanuel Ukoh
