Follow Us on Google
By Oluseye Ojo
Stakeholders have urged parents, guardians and the society to give listening ears to girls because they have a lot of things bottled up within them.
The charge was given during the celebration of this year’s International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC), with the theme: ‘The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead’, organised by the Twenty-one Five Child Foundation (T1FF).
The programme, held at St Annes’s School, Molete, Ibadan, Oyo State, was the second edition to be organised by T1FF, and it brought together hundreds of students, teachers, and development partners.
The Founder and Executive Director of T1FF, Ambassador Tolu Taiwo; Oyo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs Toyin Balogun; and the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olusegun Olayiwola, were among the stakeholders that made the advocacy.
Taiwo said: “Parents and guardians may think that they know what is going on in the lives of their wards, but they may be surprised at how much they don’t know.”
She explained that when they are given listening ears, they would open up, and there is a possibility for them to get proper guidance that would in the long run have positive impact on national development.
“Let us recognise the power of girls, act on their demands, prioritise their rights, and invest in their dreams. We must do this, not only because it is the right thing to do, but because it is essential for building peaceful, prosperous societies.
“Every girl, everywhere, deserves equality, opportunity, and dignity. Together, let us keep building a world where every girl is seen, heard, and empowered to lead.”
Taiwo told the girls that leadership begins with voice, saying: “Every time you speak up, ask a question, share an idea, or stand up for what is right, you are already leading a change.”
The state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs Toyin Balogun, represented by Mrs Bola Dada, the Deputy Director of Child Welfare in the ministry, who commended T1FF for its efforts in advancing girl-child rights and inclusion, urged the girls to embrace education with courage and aspire beyond the limits of circumstance.
Also, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olusegun Olayiwola, represented by Mrs A.A. Akande, urged girls to pursue their dreams without fear or limitation.
