Association empowers the girl–child on education forum

About 500 girls have been empowered by the Association of Women in Governance (AWIG), at a one-day awareness programme with focus on their challenges, with a view to drawing state, national, and global attention to the importance of educating the girl child.
   
The event was in line with the United Nations (UN) declaration of the International Day of Education, themed: “Missing Opportunities: The High Cost of Not Educating Girls,” held at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Schools, Ikeja, Lagos.
   
Some of the girls from Murtala Muhammed Airport Schools, Smack Schools, Chestville Schools, among others benefited from these activities such as lectures presentation, quiz competition and questions and answers sections.Speaking at the event, the Convener, AWIG, Mrs. Bridget Gold, emphasized that “education is a human right, and educating girls is a strategic development policy.“

The event draws attention to the girl-child and the importance and necessity of educating girls toward achieving the UN’s aims of sustainable development.Gold noted that, “Failure to educate girls is especially costly, because of the relationship between education, child marriage, early child bearing and the risks they entail for young mothers and their children.”She added that the group stands as a voice of the voiceless, and a shining beacon of hope to girls, wives, sisters and mothers.
 
It also gives the NGO a chance to foster enduring values in leadership by providing them with a non-partisan platform for dealing with critical issues affecting women, children and their development through intense research, networking, extensive education and training programmes. 
 
Also speaking, Airport Manager, Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Mrs. Shin-Aba Bamidele Victoria, said: “Education is the bedrock of the economy. A society can be determined by the level of investment on education, intellectual, facilities and total well -being of her citizens especially the disadvantaged girl-child.”
   
She added that the girl-child should not be limited but assisted to reach the peak of her career without hindrances.Shin-Aba disclosed that her organisation gives room to female genders because they believed that “Train a child,Train a Nation:”The Principal, Murtala Muhammed Airport Schools, Mrs. Otoide Stella Osahuemhome, appreciated the gesture of AWIG for supporting the cause of girls, who are sometimes marginalised in the society. She also advocated that the girl-child should be respected provided for and given opportunities and privileges.