Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has stressed the need for stakeholders to ensure the education of the girl child.
The governor stated this in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, in a message to mark this year’s International Women’s Day.
According to the governor, educating the girl child is the most powerful weapon against oppression and relegation, just as he described women as the cradle of life and society.
Governor Alia described the contributions of women as vital, stating that without women, communities would weaken, the economy would suffer, and families would forever be searching for direction.
He also explained the key roles played by Benue women in the areas of farming, trade, lawmaking, teaching, policymaking, as physicians and nurses, and called on the male folks never to look down on the women.
According to him, “Here in Benue, our women are not just mothers in the genuine sense of the word; they are farmers, traders, lawmakers, teachers, specialists, and policymakers.
“Without their contributions, our economy would stall, our communities would weaken, and our families would forever be searching for direction.”
He described this year’s theme of the celebration, which is “Advance Action,” as timely, and urged all stakeholders to speed up actions aimed at achieving gender equality, addressing the slow pace of progress among women, thereby empowering them and the girl child.
“Despite their invaluable role, many women still struggle in the regressive waters of inequality. Some are denied education, others are forced into early marriage, and many still bear the weight of harmful cultural practices. We must therefore speed up action to change this narrative,” the statement read in parts.
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