Intl Day of Girl Child: “We will Priotise Issues of the Girl Child” -Benue Gov
By Bridget Ikyado
The Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev Fr Dr Hyacinth Alia has disclosed that his administration will priotise issues of the Girl Child and has a robust plan to enhance the education of girls in the state.
The governor was symbolically represented by Miss Rita Shamiga, a 14-year-old student of Anglican Secondary School, Makurdi, in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child (lDGC) organised by a non-governmental organisation, Save the Children.
The theme of this years event is “Our time is now— our rights, our future.”
Governor Alia, who was represented by the Girl Champion, said his administration’s has the interest the Benue child at heart which is why he has opened doors to work with development partners and the civil society organizations to collaborate on promoting the ideals and best practices to engender an enabling environment for the wellbeing of children and girls in the state.
While he described children as the pride of every nation and the keys to getting Benue state the desired future, the Governor regretted that, while some of the children are now IDPs, the girl child are faces so many untold hardships, with the family contributing to keeping her shut, and silent most times.
“Nobody cares to listen. We must begin to listen and my administration will listen. This administration recognizes the challenges which include but not limited to early marriage, sexual and gender-based violence (GBV), Gender inequality, lack of access to education to mention just a few.”
He promised to mitigate the challenges through the full implementation of policies and laws pledging that “Girls would be involved in the decision and policy making processes that affects them directly, to ensure gender equality, and expression of their feelings and thoughts.
“My administration just launched the ICT capacity building initiative, I have mandated that the girl child is prioritized in this initiative and many more. As a government, we are committed to “Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being.”
Earlier, the State Commissioner of Education and Knowledge Economy, Rev Frederick Ikyaan, said the Benue state government has robust Programmes to ensure the girl child in Benue reached her full potentials.
He pledged the support of the Ministry of Education in ensuring the Girl child got all needed support to Excel in the Society
Ikyaan also noted that the woman was created from a refined material commended Save the Children International for partnering with the state government saying the Governor Alia led-government is committed to the upliftment of the children especially girl child.
The Commissioner of Women Affairs and Socisl Development,Mrs. Ann Itodo noted that Benue has many out-of-school children, arising from a prolonged period of stay in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps by many of the citizens.
She said the Ministry owed the Girl child the best protection and support needed to succeed.
In her remarks,the Wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs Christy Ode encouraged the women and girls in particular to believe in themselves, build their confidence in God, study hard and the sky will not limit them.
She called on the parents to encourage the girls at all time to enable them overcome the numerous stereotypes facing them in the society saying “I have come as a mother, encourage your girls to go to school and during the holidays, assist them to get engaged in little things that would help them,” she advised.
Advocacy Manager (Education), Save the Children, Badar Musa, disclosed that the NGO is in over 120 countries and has been championing children’s cause for the past 104 years.
He said they will not relent in ensuring the Girl child had the best in the Society.
The Field Manager, Save The Children International– Ogoja Field Office, Oluseyi Abejide, said the day provides unique opportunity to reflect on the collective efforts at promoting the rights of a girl child, and gender equality, raise the awareness against every form of discrimination against the girl child.
She said “Our programs in Save the Children prioritize the health and wellbeing of girls, so that they can develop and reach their full potentials, and we firmly believe that your government is more than willing to collaborate with us and other partners to achieve this noble course.
She called for more support for girls and women to take advantage of the opportunities available to them to be educated and self-reliant, and not get intimidated by gender stereotypes.
“We are reminded today that it is our responsibility to give them the importance they deserve and work together for their happier lives. Let us work in synergy to make this dream come true for them so that the little girls with dreams today can become strong women with vision tomorrow.”
Adolescent Champion And Member, Child Rights Advocacy Club, Advocate Florence Ojong, a refugee in Benue, also thanked the Nigerian and Benue state government for accommodating and supporting refugees to live normal lives again.
She further appealed to the Governor to intervene in their desires to be protected from danger, malnutrition, and have access to quality health care and education
Benue State Children Parliament led by the Speaker, Master Callistus Ugboho also congratulated the Governor on his election,
thanking him for the opportunity given to them to be part of his leadership.
“The entire children of Benue state are proud of you, and kindly request you to use your very good office to support us in Strengthening the implementation of the Child Rights Act (CRA) by including the children parliament to be members of the CRA implementation committee, consider the situation of the most affected children in Benue state and prioritize them to access quality basic education, health care and other basic services”.