Gender, metro
SOME parents in Bwari communities of the FCT have called for more advocacy for Girl-Child rights, while adding that advocacy should begin from the home.
The parents made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday, while celebrating the 2022 International Day of the Girl Child (IDG).
NAN reports that the International Day of the Girl Child is an annual internationally recognised observance on Oct.11 that empowers girls and amplifies their voices.
The 2022 IDG marks the 10th anniversary of the day.
Mrs Amara Thomas, a teacher and also a mother, said that the day was worth celebrating especially for herself, whose children are all girls.
Thomas said that the day should remind all of the vital role the female figure played in the society and the need to call for more advocacy against the challenges faced by the gender.
“ Our attention today is once again drawn to the plight and unfortunate condition of marginalised girls in the world; marginalised either by culture, tradition, religion, or class.
“The egoistic perception by the opposite gender in our various societies must stop and a new dawn for this gender must continually rise beginning from the home. We, parents, owe them this.
“Today’s call is again a call against barrier to education, against forced child marriage or child labour and against being prey to sexual exploitation or trafficking.
“It is a call for intense advocacy for the value of educating girls and delivering skills to young women in underserved communities.
“This is so that we are able to unlock opportunities for young women, which I believe has benefits far beyond the economic advantages skills and empowerment can bring to these individuals,” she said.
Thomas added that all stakeholders in the communities and the society at large needed to believe that the girl child needed to be mentored and taught the proper values that would improve her self worth.
“The girl child needs to be provided for, cared for, cherished and loved.
“A girl child needs to be affirmed repeatedly that she is priceless. Parents, care-givers, governments and the society at large owe her these.”
Similarly, Mrs Precious Angama, Programme Coordinator, Ruth Foundation, an NGO, also said that education was key for all genders and discrimination against girl-child education from homes must stop.
According to Angama, a lot of families still believe the male gender should go to school with the hope to do better and take care of the family in future.
Angama said that it was quite unfortunate that this situation had continued to linger, adding that days like these are days to raise more awareness against such discrimination in the society.
“People need to be more aware that a girl with an education is less likely to be forced into child marriage, experience violence or suffer from poor health.
” Yes, she is more likely to be able to break free from the cycle of poverty, contribute to a country’s economic growth and have a healthy family once given the chance.
” We have seen women grow to earn higher incomes at work places or businesses, participate in the decisions that most affect them, and build better future for themselves and their families.
” Both parents must ensure they have a role in tutoring this gender to stay above all limits with the hope to make them proud at the end of the day. Gone are the days of mediocrity.”
Another parent, Mr Andukoro James, a public servant, was of the opinion that there should not be discrimination against any gender, especially at home.
He said that all children were gifts from God and if He decided to bless one’s family with only one gender, it was because He had destined them to be great in life.
He urged that community stakeholders must ensure that out-of-school children are enrolled in schools while ensuring equal participation by girls as that of boys.
“The girl child is powerful. She has dreams and abilities that if wielded will disrupt the status quo in any patriarchal society she finds herself in. She has foresight; she is intelligent; she is a born leader.
” She makes things happen; the moment she finds her voice, she cannot be silenced, she will not take no for an answer.
“Contrary to how she is perceived to be a weakling, she is strong.
“She is a formidable force, so much so that in situations when she has to grapple with her male counterparts for a position, if given equal opportunity, she is bound to come out on top, ” James said. (NAN)
C.E
Tags: Girl-Child rights
