Lanre Omotoso
A girl-child requires basic survival needs like food, shelter, water and health care, as well as quality education to prepare and empower her for the future.
Other needs of female children include emotional support and protection against violence.
The question begging for answers however is how accessible are these things for every girl child?
A respondent, Mrs Ademiju Adewumi who is the chairperson of the National Association of Women Journalists NAWOJ, in Ekiti State identified lack of access to adequate health care, education and early marriage as consequential challenges that prevents the girl-child from attaining her goals in life.
Speaking on this year’s theme “The girl I am, the change I lead: Girls on the frontlines of crisis.” Mrs Adewumi called on parents, teachers and government at all levels to play their roles adequately for the girl-child to achieve their full potentials.
The NAWOJ Chairperson enjoined female children to improve on themselves through positive attitude, obedience to parents’ and teachers’ instructions to make their dreams a reality.
Another respondent, a program manager of an NGO that focuses on vulnerable children, Mrs Florence Ojo identified early marriage, abuse and molestation as factors that contribute to poverty as well as economic inequality among the female folks.
Mrs Ojo stressed that out of school girl-child should be encouraged to learn vocational skill to be able to contribute to the economic development of her family and the Nation in general.
The NGO Official also emphasized the need to empower female children to partake in leadership activities, protect their right and advocate policy that would protect girls from violence and exploitation.
The stakeholders who urged girls to be determined and have confidence in themselves, called on individuals, governments and Non Govermental Organizations to support female children to have equal opportunities like their male counterparts.
Since December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted October 11 as the International Day of the Girl-Child, to recognize and promote the rights and well-being of female children worldwide.
