Federal, state govts asked to prioritise girl-child education

NIGERIAN Girl Guides Association (NGGA) has called on government at all levels in the country to give due attention to girl-child care, especially their education, saying such would boost their sense of belonging and capacity to succeed in life.

The chief commissioner of the association, Mrs Maria-Goretti Sule, made the call in Lagos at a sideline of a three-day programme with the theme ‘Action on Body Confidence’.

It was put together by the World Association of Girl Guides Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) in conjunction with Dove, a cosmetics outfit.

Sule contended that governments, especially at the state level, are not paying enough attention to the education of the girl-child and that this condition is giving the association serious concern.

Mrs Sule said: “We are not happy with the way policy makers are handling the education and protection of the girl-child in the country. We have discovered that some state governors are really not helping matters when it comes to the girl-child education, empowerment and protection, as they don’t take strong measures to address them.

ALSO READ: Governors meet over minimum wage, Paris Club refund, others

“Whereas, majority of these policy makers are well educated and know the enormous benefits that come with educating a male or female child to the family, states, the country and the world at large and yet do not make it a priority.

“So, the Girl’s Guide wants government across all tiers to take this matter seriously in the interest of the society.”

While also advocating equal opportunity in other areas of life for the girl-child with their male counterparts as obtainable in the developed countries, the commissioner insisted that lack of education of the girl-child, or very little of it, will expose them to violence, low self-esteem and poor economic productivity.

On her part, the project manager of the association, Mrs Lillian Damie, said the essence of the programme was to empower young people (ages from seven to 25 years) through body confidence education that would enable them to reach their full potential.

She said that body wants the girls to be assertive, confident and look beyond their appearance when taking certain life’s decisions or when faced with certain life’s challenges.

“They should be able to see themselves not as second class citizens to any body as well as not allow themselves to be used or abused and not hold back from taking up leadership position,” she added.