As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark this year’s international day of the girl child, the administration Governor Seyi Makinde will continue to promote and sustain the rights of the girl-child in Oyo State.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Hon (Mrs) Toyin Balogun stated this on Wednesday in commemoration of the year 2023 International Day of the Girl-Child.
Speaking on this year’s theme, DIGITAL GENERATION,OUR GENERATION the Commissioner noted that the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde and Office of the First Lady have kept making cases for Oyo indigents women and girls who have been faced with so many issues ranging from, rape, female genital mutilation, gender based violence, marginalisation, early marriage among others.
Mrs Balogun further said the world would be a better place if the female genders are as happy as their male counterparts.
According to her, communities have a major role to play in addressing issues that affect girls especially under patriarchal beliefs and social norms with sensitisation and awareness campaigns.
She also urged the private sector, development partners and corporate bodies to come out and support the next generation for national development. Her words:
This year’s theme ; “Digital generation, Our generation” is very timely as it provides a platform for the global community to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.
“On December 19, 2011,the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child.Since then, the day is celebrated to honour and empower our girl children.
“Girls have the right to a safe, educated and healthy life, however they are faced with challenges such as economic deprivation, traditional misconceptions, abuse, limited educational opportunities, violence as well as social norms such as early marriage and female genital mutilation. The factors contributing to these challenges include poverty, street hawking, illiteracy, religious beliefs, to mention but a few.
“It is thus important that girls are given the opportunity to achieve their potentials by putting them in the forefront of change efforts, hearing their voices, responding to their questions and welcoming them in decision-making spaces.
“I would like to use this opportunity to remind our girl children that there is neither substitute to hard work nor shortcut, so implore all to be diligent in their studies and always aspire to become better ambassadors of themselves,respective homes and schools.
“Digital literacy is a highly demanded skill, it can improve a girl child’s academic performance and boost her employability and boost tremendously,the GDP of Countries with a large ration of females in the tech industry
” However,every invention has both a positive and negative element.Digital solutions provide huge opportunities for sustaining and promoting children’s rights, but these same tools may also increase children’s exposure to online risks like grooming, pornography.
“My advice as a mother and a stakeholder to our Girl Children is to endeavour to utilize the internet to access educational content not just the social media element such as facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Tiktok, and sharing of pornographic video and pictures.
“It is worthy to note that this administration led by His Excellency, Governor Oluseyi Makinde and his amiable wife His Excellency, Engr. Olufunke Tamunomini Makinde together with the Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Inclusion has succeeded in uplifting the girl children in the State through women empowerment, tackling issues of female genital mutilation, supporting the less privileged, addressing gender based violence, amongst other interventions and programmes which are yielding fruit.”
Happy International Children’s Day.
