“Our Girls are leaders of today” Says first lady
By Bukola Afeni
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has said that no stone should be left unturned in ensuring that the girl child attains her potential, adding that education is the weapon needed to ensure that the girl child in Nigeria is protected from discrimination and intimidation.
Mrs Tinubu spoke at the National Girls Interactive Session with Policy and Decision Makers to commemorate the 2023 International Day of the Girl Child held in Maryam Babangida Centre for Women Development, with the theme ‘Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership & Our Well-being’.
The First Lady also said investing in the girl child is in the best interest of the nation.
She noted that the girl child must be protected from all forms of violence with a safe and inclusive environment provided for them to thrive.
According to her,
“Our girls are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are the leaders of today. It’s high time we broke down barriers that have held them back for long. Education is the key weapon that we must use to ensure that every girl is free from discrimination and intimidation.
“This is one of the reasons I have taken it as a priority to encourage the girl child so she can achieve her potentials. Under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), we are looking at promoting alternative high school for girls so that despite whatever misadventure they find themselves, they can still acquire education that could give them access to higher education. I urge all well meaning Nigerian to help show the girl child that there is a good way.”
She also advised the girls and boys present to join voluntary clubs such as Boys Scout, Girls Guide, Red Cross, among others.
In her remarks at the event, the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, noted that the Federal Government is now more committed to ensuring that harmful and discriminatory practices against the girl child are totally eliminated.
She added that it is no more business as usual for those who sexually assault girls as government will prosecute such offenders, pointing out that the case of the eight year- old girl allegedly abused by her step father has been taken up by her ministry for prosecution.
There was an interactive session with the girls, which was an opportunity for the First Lady to share some of government’s vision, the mission of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI ) and also her dreams for the future of the Nigerian girl.
