Director-General bags Human Right Watch award in Bayelsa

Sequel to his commitment in peace building, promoting education and societal wellbeing, group under the aegis of Human Right Watch has conferred an award on the Director-General of the Bayelsa State Partnership Agency (BSPA), Honourable Braboke Stanley Enaibagha for his unalloyed commitment and support towards the girl-child education in the state.

Presenting the director-general with the plaque, the leader of the group, Mr. Mathew Marvin, said the group carried out an independent assessment of some officials of government and among the lot, came to conclusion that the cap fits Honourable Enaibagha for his silent achievements in peace building, promoting societal wellbeing and support for the education of the girl-child in the state.

The leader of the group, noted that the director-general had been supportive of the activities of the group and that the award was their modest way of showing appreciation and to encourage him, while seeking partnership with the agency to enable them achieve greater goals.

He described the director-general as a crusader, who would not accede to under-age marriage for the girl-child, giving birth as teenagers and being concerned to the kitchen without formal secondary and university education that would give them a sense of belonging in the society.

The group averred that despite several international charters on girl-child, including UNICEF warning, yet in some communities, parents and caregivers still did not attach importance to the education of their girl-child, rather they saw it as a waste of resources, stressing that it was for that reason that they sought partnership to educate parents through seminars in the communities.

The group also decried all manner of abuse that the girl-child was subjected to, such as hawking during school hours and recurring cases of rape, stressing that many had lived with the stigma and trauma of being raped, while parents should stop forthwith the act of settling out of court, as it would give the perpetrators cover to hunt another victim.

Marvin, however, appealed to the Director-General to use his good office to prevail on the state police command to help curb cases of arrest of innocent citizens without reasons, particularly young adults and noted that it a breach of their fundamental human right.

In his response, the Director-General, who was taken aback by the awards, said he never knew his activities was been accessed independently, even as he thanked the group taking up a selfless service to correct the ills of society, especially the insensitivity to the girl-child education amongst others.

He submitted that there is an existing legislation that prohibit teenage boys and girls from hawking during school hour, stressing that the State Universal Education Board (SUBEB) would be alerted on strict enforcement, while the State Commissioner of Police, Amba Asuquo who is committed people friendly and democratic policing, condemns illegal arrest of innocent citizen would look into the matter and deal decisively if any policeman if found culpable.

To this end, Enaibagha assured the group of his support; and noted that the office of the Governor’s wife, through her pet project “educating the girl-child” has done tremendously towards the education and wellbeing of the Ijaw girl-child, commending the ministry of women affairs, he averred it would be alerted to look into the ills and concerns of the girl-child education.