Day of Girl-Child: Prop urges investment, conducive environment for education

By Florence Kalu

The Proprieties of Gills Montessori School (G. M.S.), Fagbile Estate, Ijegun, Mrs Uchechukwu Adeh, has called for robust investment in the education of the Girl-Child to bequeath a brighter future for them.

Adeh made the call in an interview with newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos to mark the International Day of the Girl- Child.

Newsmen reports that the theme of the 2023 International Day of the Girl -Child is , “Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being.”

Adeh said that everything should be done to protect the rights of the girl-child to education, adding that safe spaces be created in schools where the girl-child would acquire knowledge.

According to her, access to quality education will enable the girl-child contribute meaningfully to the society at large.

The proprietress decried the wave of Gender Based Violence(GBV) in the country, especially against the girl-child.

She noted that GBV could be reduced through education, enlightenment and advocacy programmes, and believing and supporting any GBV survival.

She explained that understanding the root cause of GBV and making sure that girls were in school when they are supposed to be in school would help in the reduction of GBV.

She added that the girl-child in particular, and women in general, need to be empowered economically to make them compete favourably with their male counterparts.

She urged school administrators to create a safe space and an environment full of love for the girl-child to thrive, feel loved and protected.

Newsmen reports that the International Day of the Girl-Child is marked globally on October 11.

It is a day set aside to celebrate the girl-child, and come up with solutions to the challenges they face globally.

According to UNICEF, Nigeria has about 15 million out of school Children with 60 per cent of them being girls.