₦airaland Forum

Undoubtedly, the girl child has not been accorded her natural right of place since human existence even in the affairs that concern them, they are short-changed and left unrecognised. As such, the girl child falls victim of human trafficking, early marriage and she is denied access to education, and unless the mentality and mindset against the girl child is changed, we will be left with the same result.

However, in Nigeria, we currently have a woman-oriented leader who always addresses the need to tackle this backward mentality head on. This leader, whose birthday coincidentally falls on a day pronounced “World Women’s Day” has never stopped advocating for an end to gender based violence or pushing for (more) women inclusion in governance.

On the 21st of October, 2020, the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, attended an event to mark the 6th anniversary of Future Assured Foundation Programme, an initiative of Aisha Buhari Foundation to end gender based violence and abuse, empowerment amongst others. There, he lent his voice on how to tackle issues related to the girl child; the effects and consequences.

According to the Vice President at the Future Assured event, “the very future of Nigeria and our communities depend on how well we address the many concerns of women and children in our communities, especially the focal areas of health, education and economic empowerment.

“We agree with Future Assured’s belief that all social indices can be influenced if the health, education and economic status of the population are improved upon. And that is the case, clearly, women constitute half our population and the youth are at least 60% of that population. Women especially, young girls, continue to face problems of every kind and this problem mutates as the social pressures increase every passing day.”

Continuing, he said, “since the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns, it has been shown by empirical studies that the rates of dropouts, especially of girls, have increased, child marriages also increased, adolescent childbearing, and gender-based violence, all these indices increased.

“The sharp drop in income for most families here in Nigeria and in most economies of the world would mean that families will have to make choices that almost always will disfavour the girl-child and of course, female children have suffered disproportionate displacement and deprivation caused by the insurgency and conflict in the Northeast and Northwest.”

He then explained that “for the Federal Government, the President has prioritized the solutions to these issues. Since 2015, we have ensured that government's social and entrepreneurial programmes have an affirmative component for women.”

I gathered that in a bid to address violence and other abuses against women, this administration has set up several initiatives such as toll-free emergency number and short code for FCT-SGBV Response Team, with the generous support of telecommunications giant Airtel, establishment of Sexual Assault Referral Centres in Nigeria, developed referral guidelines for Gender Based Violence Response in Nigeria and several others.

It is important to recognise the courageous efforts by Future Assured Foundation who so far as intervened in education through Youth Education Empowerment Programme where large numbers of students are given tutorial classes in preparation for SSCE and JAMB examinations, provision of relief materials, food stuffs, beddings, clothing and building materials for the IDPs. Also worthy of note is the construction of orphanages and schools in Maiduguri, Borno state; free health services, Women empowerment and training alongside distribution of maternity kits.

Ok

Aje, you are building more infrastructure with your mouth than hands.

Educate the girl child for better tomorrow

This bobo don dey talk too much these days
Oga work or keep quiet like your boss

chatinent:
Ok

It seems it only women that Osimbade is interested in their welfare. What happens to taking care of the boy child or are they not human enough?

Fahdiga:
It seems it only women that Osimbade is interested in their welfare. What happens to taking care of the boy child or are they not human enough?

The alaye is confused.

chatinent:
The alaye is confused.

I tire o. Everytime woman woman. Is he a woman wrapper

Lies

We need to educate our girls very well

Looks like Osibanjo is now officially a woman wrapper.
I hope they know the consequences of what the are doing, all child matters, most touts, robbers kidnappers you see on the road are a result of wrong education, limited opportunities and bitterness. Let them continue focusing on the girl child, when e happen na all of us go run enter bush.


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