…as stakeholders advocate protection, empowerment of girl child
A don, Dr (Mrs) Saudat Sallah AbdulBaqi has called on parents and guardians to give special attention to girl child education to prevent female children from become liability to the society.
Dr Abdulbaqi made the call in Ilorin on Sunday (October 11, 202) while speaking on the occasion to commemorate this year’s International Day of Girl Child.
The programme was at the instance of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Kwara State chapter and it was held at FOMWAN Secretariat, Fate Road, Ilorin.
Dr AbdulBaqi who is a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, University of Ilorin, described female children as blessing for the present and the future generation, adding that womenfolk are more sympathetic than menfolk.
She noted with displeasure that many parents had neglected their parental responsibilities especially on female children education.
This, she said had greatly contributed the challenges female children were facing these days.
She explained that Islam emphasized more on kindness to parents especially mothers due to the special recognition accorded to womenfolk.
The don stressed the need for parents to train their female children so that they would see themselves as blessings not mistake as being misconstrued in some quarters.
She added that being a girl child is not an excuse to be a failure rather it is a challenge to be a blessing to her generation.
In her address, the state Amirah for FOMWAN, Hajia Maimunat Sheu said that the main of the day was to promote girls empowerment and fulfilment of their human rights while also highlighting the challenges that girls all over the world face.
She added that the aim was in line with FOMWAN’s fantastic dream which envisioned a world where women are totally empowered to be role model in making positive impact on the society.
Also speaking, the Chairperson of FOMWAN Youth in Kwara State, Hajia Balikis Oladimeji said that FOMWAN considers the 2020 theme, “My Voice Our Equal Future”, for the International Day of the Girl Child as very appropriate, because having a space to speak and participate is key in any inclusive governance.
She added that long before the UN proclamation, Islam had provided recognition and protection of the Girl Child in all aspects of life ranging from education, inheritance, leadership among others.
This, she said clearly shows that all are equal in the eyes of the creator and everyone is judged according to his/her deeds and not because of gender or sex.
Hajia Oladimeji who is also the Chairperson for FOMWAN Publicity and Publication, therefore advocated for all hands to be on deck to ensure that the Girl Child is treated equally with the Boy Child so that both can contribute to self national development.
Other speakers at the event include the state Commissioner for Tertiary Institutions, Hajia Saadat Madibo Kawu, her counterpart in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Deborah Abosede Aremu who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Hajia Afusat Nike Ibrahim and the Senior Special Adviser to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on SDGs, Dr Jemima Bio among others.
They stressed the need for stakeholders especially parents to rise to the challenges of ensuring adequate protection and empowered girl child in the interest of over all development of the country.
