OGSG, Stakeholders Call For Urgent Action To Protect Girl Child Against Abuse

Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji 

ABEOKUTA - As part of activities marking the International Day of Girl Child, the Ogun state government through the office of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Students Matters, Mr. Azeez Adeyemi on Sunday organized a seminar to raise awareness on issues of Girl Child Abuse. 

The participants called for urgent action to protect the girl child from abuses.

The participants who spoke at the 2020 International Day of Girl Child with the theme "My voice: Our equal future" held at the Valley view auditorium, Government House, Oke-Igbehin in Abeokuta stressed the need for parents to protect their children from all forms of violence and abuse.

The Encounter News reports that the day was which declared by the United Nations, was first celebrated on October 11,  2012.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary Education, Mrs. Ronke Soyombo observed that, the challenges confronted by every girl child was associated with the derailed norms and value of the cultural system. 

Soyombo who sought for supports and more opportunities for girls, called for increased awareness of gender inequality faced by girls worldwide.

"The way you talk determine the way people reciprocate. Let us learn how to talk and dress. We have lots of integrity. The Nigerian girls of those days won't dress inappropriately to attract any form of abuse. 

"But girls of today have thrown decency into wind. As government, we will try to look into how our curriculum can be reviewed on how our girls can take up interest in technical education, technical drawing."

In her presentation titled, "A Case for Resonant Voice of the Girl Child for our sustainable and Equal Future", the founder, Funmi Ayinke Humanity Foundation, Engr. Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo noted that, the girl child are endowed with unique qualities which can be explored through training. 

Mrs. Adekojo emphasized that, inspite of the inherent potentials of the girl child, she was impaired from showing her worth as the results of preferences for the male child, adding that empowering women contribute to the health and productivity of the family and communities.

She explained further that, the girl child has capacity to exploits in all aspects of life from the technology, finance and investment, creative industry, education, policy and advocacy space than the male counterparts if given proper training and education. 

Calling on parents and government in the full development of the girl child, Mrs. Adekojo suggested the adoption of protection human rights, providing services, prosecuting offenders, preventing abuse against girl child, promoting access to quality education and empowerment.

In her own submission, popular Nollywood actress, and President, Passion Against Rape and Abuse in Africa Foundation (PARA), Mrs. Foluke Daramola-Salako noted that, the celebration “reflects the successful emergence of girls and young women as a distinct cohort in development policy, programming, campaigning and research. 

She expressed appreciation on the progress made on the advocacy by women groups on the need to protect their folk against any forms of gender-based violence. 

"I am happy to note the progress that has been made in the area of activism by girls to protect their gender. 

"I want to state that more needs to be done especially to address gender-based violence which seems to be more pronounced recently and all hands must be on deck to achieve this.”

While expressing the commitment of the Ogun state government to develop and explore the girl child's potentials, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Students Matters, Mr. Adeyemi Azeez said the seminar became necessary to equip the young women as key players in the developmental progress of the state.