…panelists urge the government to institute policies that protect girls’ rights
Women in Leadership Advancement Network (WILAN) in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation commemorated the 10th anniversary of the International Day of the Girl recently.
Speaking on the theme, “Our Time is Now: our right, our future,” the founder of WILAN, Abosede George-Ogan noted that the year’s theme focuses on how to accelerate the rate of progress and give girls a future where they are equipped with the agency and leadership to maximize and fulfill their fullest potential.
Delivering her keynote remarks, Managing Director, The Education Partnering Center, Dr. Modupe Adefeso-Olateju harped on the need to promote the education of the girl child, stating that doing so was critical to development in any nation.
“Every girl child should have access to education. The world needs to acknowledge the challenges of women and the resilience of women. Girls face a lot of challenges, including early marriage, the number of children out of school and learning outcomes. COVID-19 has done the girl child a bit of a disservice. Every child’s education starts in the home and the mother is the primary instructor” she noted.
In his submission, Mr. Henry Anumundu who is the founder of Sharing Lives Africa and also a Mastercard Foundation Scholar, said the government has a significant role to play in ensuring that the girl child gets the fair treatment required.
According to him, “The issue facing access to education, and safe spaces for girls is very structural. We need to ask what policies our government is making to allow girls go to school. We need to refine the system so that families, teachers, and the government are all learning together and making policies that improve the plight of the girl child”.
In her remarks, Zainab Haruna, another panelist, stressed the need for all stakeholders to join forces in advancing the cause of the girl.
Shedding more light on the views of fellow panelists, Olamide Akin-Alabi, stated that most young girls are not self-aware of what rights they enjoy, noting that government and other stakeholders must bring them to that consciousness.
“Girls need to be taught about their rights. They need to know that beyond morals, there is a law backing them that certain things should not be done to them. It is not enough to tell them about their rights, you need to let them know what to do. We have to think of innovative ways to talk to children about their rights. Can we use music to teach children? Akin-Alabi said.
The Founder, the Butterfly Project who was also a panelist, Tawakalit Kareem said, “The Child Rights Acts have been signed by other states in Nigeria except for Kano and Gombe. We can create laws all we want, but if we do not change our minds, it will not have effects. The problem is that the information they need is not getting to them in ways they can access it”.
Bringing in the voice of a young girl to the event, the Head Girl of Bodija International School, Kikelomo Babatunde- Lawal urged parents and caregivers to provide the much-needed support for the girl child in their care to build their confidence and direct them towards opportunities that will better their lives.
“We are not contending for power. Neither are we in a power tussle with men but we seek collaboration. All we are seeking is equality and inclusion. Give us the opportunity to show you our potential,” she said.
The Mastercard Foundation created a platform for this International Day of the Girl to showcase its commitment to youth empowerment in Nigeria and across Africa, particularly for young girls. The Foundation has always been at the forefront of promoting the cause of girls, advancing access to schooling and helping shape their communities. Together with its partners across the continent, the Foundation’s strategy is to empower 30 million young Africans by the year 2030 by providing access to fulfilling and dignified work. Of this number, it is expected that 21 million of African youth will be young girls.
