Wife of Abia State Governor Mrs Prescilla Chidinma Otti has reiterated her commitment towards protecting and empowering the girl child in the state.
The Abia first lady who disclosed this during the International Day of the Girl Child in Umuahia assured girls and women that they would collaborate with Ministry of Women Affairs to restore sanity and bring an end to all forms of abuse of the girl child in the State.
Commemorating the 2024 International Day of the Girl Child, Otti maintained that she would make the State a living hell for anyone harbouring the thought of exploiting the young girls
The Abia first lady who described the theme of the event; “Girls Vision For the Future” as timely and critical to the collective aspirations of state, renewed her commitment to building a world where every young girl can thrive, dream and achieve greatness without any hindrances.
She said the day offers an opportunity for young girls to deeply reflect on the unique challenges facing them to include; Poverty, limited access to quality education, healthcare, child labour, forced marriages and discrimination within the Society stemming from Gender based bias
She regretted how the worsening economic situation has made most parents to neglect their duty of taking care of the young girls to pursue wealth and other responsibilities, adding that the girls often times are victims of exploitation, sexual abuse and violence
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for women Affairs Dr. Mrs. Maureen Aghukwa, described a Girl child as a female between the ages of 0-19 years, adding that the period marks the crucial stage of human development when one is faced with various social, cultural barriers and peers influences which most times subject them to early marriage, abuses and other vices. She called for a collective support to address the situation
In her keynote speech, the Director, Center for Gender, Youth and Child Development (CGYCD), Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), Prof Mabel Ifeoma Onwuka who decried gender inequality against the girl child, advocated for equal opportunities and rights for girls alongside their male counterparts.
She maintained that girls should be given equal opportunities with their male counterpart to showcase their ingenuity and contribute to the advancement of the society.
She appealed to parents/guardians to resist the temptation of exposing their girl child to early marriage and child labour, adding that the consequences are irredeemable.
She also urged them not to discriminate against the girl child but to give them quality education, insisting that training a girl child is paramount to nation building.
She lamented that 7.9 million out-of-school girls are quite worrisome, urging parents to take advantage of the free basic education in Abia state to train their children especially the girl child.
The founder, Hope for Farmers, Women and Girls Initiatives (HOFWGI), further enjoined girls to carry themselves with dignity and avoid gifts that would expose them to abuse and sexual exploitations.
Highpoints of the event were goodwill messages from corporate bodies, quiz, debate, dance competition, among others.
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