The quality of one’s thoughts and the way it shapes ones experience and future has been the focus in many mentorship class. It is said the way your life goes depends on the quality of your thoughts. Even the Bible enjoins believers to guide their thoughts with all diligence.
It is in line with this belief that the Human of substance empowerment initiative (HOSEI), a nongovernmental organization as part of activities marking its second year anniversary brought together over a 100 girls and their mothers for a mentorship session at the American corner, Jericho, Ibadan.
The workshop themed, “Your thought, your life” was basically to encourage young girls not to underrate themselves no matter the challenge they face or the situation they find themselves as they can be what they think they can be.
HOSEI as an organization has focused on empowering women and girls with priority on educating the girl child and giving her a voice and has continued to champion boldness among the feminine gender, with the orientation that gender should not be a challenge in aspiring for success.
The founder of HOSEI, Abiade Olanwale Abiola, stated at the seminar that it is important to involve mothers in training sessions because the input of a mother goes a long way in defining the future of her girl child and it is important that they share same values so that they will have a common focus and approach to defined goals.
The seminar at the American Corner had four lectures as well as an interactive session all geared at bringing out the importance of empowering the girl child; speakers spoke on positive thoughts, sexual and drug abuse, domestic violence and empowering the mind.
Barrister Abiade in her speech stated that it became imperative to bring mothers and daughters together after the discovery that many daughters end up committing the same mistakes their mothers made, adding that it seems to have become generational.
“The need to stop the seeming transfer of mistakes from mothers to their daughters from one generation to the other is the reason we told girls to come with their mothers as a cordial relationship between the mother and the daughter will go a long way in defining the future of the child. I want parents to let their daughters know where they fell and have open communication with their daughters on issues.
“Force can be counterproductive but when we are our daughter’s best friend, we can talk to them in a language they understand and help them shape a future they desire,” she said.
Abiade explained that women need to stand together and be each others’ supporter and greatest fan, adding that it is common for women to be the first to attack a fellow woman that decides to be bold for change.
“We need to stop being our own worst enemies and stop taking feminism or calls for gender parity as a competition. It is mainly a call for equal treatment and respect knowing that women have a lot to contribute to nation building. It is time to champion our cause by ourselves as we can forge a greater advancement for women when we understand what we are advocating.
The girls were encouraged to break barriers on their path with the power of their thoughts and the strength of their minds, take bold and pragmatic steps in following their dreams and run with the vision they have of the future they desire.
Speakers at the event include Mrs C. Agbaje, the CEO of Sun flower limited, Mrs. C.I Popoola, the Director of Women Programmes at the Oyo state Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Kehinde Tewogbola, the founder of report every sexual abuse, Miss Hilda Ehidiamen, the CEO of Hilda’s Angels and Mrs Adefemi B. Arigbede, the Director of American Corner.
Mothers were advised at the seminar to be available and accessible to their children, not to be judgmental and learn not to leave their children at the mercy of society because no one can be trusted not to take advantage of an innocent child.
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