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Group calls for implementation of law protecting girl-child

By Yetunde Ayobami Ojo
23 October 2018   |   4:04 am
The International Charitable Initiative for Girl Child and Woman Development Foundation (ICI-GWODEF), has charged the Federal Government...

[FILE PHOTO] Girl Child. PHOTO: Reuters

The International Charitable Initiative for Girl Child and Woman Development Foundation (ICI-GWODEF), has charged the Federal Government to implement all laws protecting women and girls.

The President of the group, Mrs. Helen Nchedo Ibeji, who made the call at this year’s celebration of International Day of the Girl-child, reiterated that it is the duty of government to maintain peace in the country, elimination of girl-child abuse as well as implementation of laws protecting women and girls.

With the theme, ‘Empower Girls: Before, During and After Conflict’, Ibeji stated that the theme was apt as Nigerian girls are currently in need of government’s urgent intervention.

According to her, “This is the time the girl-child needs empowerment. It could be information, financial or even spiritual empowerment, but for whatever reason, the girls must be well informed first.

“We are calling on parents and the government to create time for the girls, nurture them, educate them, treat them with respect and correct them within the confines of the law.

“Our campaign is that all forms of abuses and disrespect for the girl-child must be reduced or totally eliminated. Federal government should do whatever it can to help the girl-child in her life.”

She also called on those in authority to design measures for monitoring challenges confronting Nigerian girls on a daily basis.

“A well informed mother is a well-informed nation. For vision 2030 to be achieved, Nigeria must start with girl-child information and empowerment if the country must achieve sustainable development goals.

“In the event of war and conflict, women and girls suffer more. Therefore, we must begin with taking care of our women and girls and every other thing will fall in place”, Ibeji said.

The group therefore called on President Mohammadu Buhari to hasten steps in rescuing Sharibu Leah and unite her with her family.

Also, a legal practitioner, Ify Uzokwe, charged parents to bring up their children in the way of the Lord and teach them things they ought to know.

“Don’t allow them to learn from the outside world because most times, it doesn’t go the right way. Let them learn from home so that they will exhibit that which they were thought.”

Deputy Chief Whip, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs. Omotayo Oduntan, in her remarks, urged women to come out from their shells and make significant contributions to the development of the society.

While encouraging girls invited from different schools, the President, African Women Lawyers Association of Nigeria (AWLA), Mandy Ego Asagba, challenged them to make education a priority, noting that it will enable them to enjoy better life in future as well as help them combat gender-based inequality.

Also speaking, Lagos State Coordinator, Legal Aid Council, Mrs. Latifat Salau, held that to achieve a better society that can compete with the rest of the world, “we must start with the development and empowerment of the girl-child and women.”

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