Wife of Kwara governor advocates for girl-child

WIFE of the Kwara State governor, Ambassador Olufolake Abdulrazaq, has joined other Nigerians to advocate for the safeguarding of girl child in the Nigeria society.

 Speaking at a book launch in Ilorin, the state capital, Mrs Abdulrazaq called for complementary efforts from groups and individuals to project and fight the course of the girl child in the society.

 She said that the issue of the girl-child is a global phenomenon, adding that it should not be left for the government alone to handle.

 Represented by the Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Dr Alabi Afeez Abolore, the Kwara first lady called on well meaning Nigerians to rise up to the challenge of safeguarding the girl-child.

 Also speaking, two reviewers of the book entitled, ‘Safeguarding the Girl-child from Social Vices,’ Dr Ronke Soyombo and Dr A. Olorungbebe, dissected the book.

Special Adviser on Education to Ogun state Governor, Dr Ronke Soyombo, while reviewing the book said that the book had not only made the job of advocacy easy, but captured core arrears where stakeholders needed to focus on in terms of legislation, enforcement and action to be taken for desired results.

 Soyombo said that the plight of the girl-child goes beyond a national challenge but a global phenomenon, which required all hands to be on deck to safeguard the girl child.

 Dr Olorungbebe described the book as an operational manual for action on safeguarding the girl-child.

 The guest lecturer and an Islamic cleric, Dr Muhammad Lukuman Isalekoto, said that parents had mentorship roles to play in creating conversations between them and their children.

 He said that in a situation where parents ignore their responsibility, the children usually become menace to society.

 He also said that a misguided idle hand is a ready tool for the devil.

Read Also: Reps pass tax reforms bills through second reading

The cleric also said that parents should stop exhibiting the attitudes they would not want in their children, saying that charity begins at home

Speaking on reasons for writing the book, Dr Zainab Bolajoko Balogun, stated that the book is a product of several years experience in advocacy for the girl-child and called for urgent need to safeguard the girl-child.

 She further stated that the book is a research based work coupled with her interaction with other stakeholders in the advocacy work.