Oyo State government has re-echoed its commitment and willingness to promote and protect the rights and privileges of all children, especially the girl-child education for sustainable development.
The state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Faosat Sanni, stated this during year 2020 virtual National Children’s Day celebration held at the Ministry’s Conference Room, Secretariat, Ibadan.
Speaking on the theme for the year, ‘Promoting Girl-Child Education For Sustainable Development’, Alhaja Sanni described the girl-child education as vital tool for national development, hence, there was need for more girls to be involved in education, child welfare and poverty reduction.
He stressed that education not only promotes development, but also ensures that development attained was sustained.
“In many societies, there are numerous issues that prevent a girl-child from fulfilling her rights to an education which ranges from her gender to her economic condition and to our cultural beliefs.
“We are also faced with many challenges such as rape, child trafficking, defilement, child marriage, teenage pregnancy, female genital mutilation and many more.
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“There are stigma attached to the education of women and girls and as a result, untapped human potentials and gender equality are prominent even as sex trafficking, child marriage and forced prostitution can become the sad alternative to an education,” she added.
Sanni assured that the state government would continue to support all policies that would promote the rights and privileges of Oyo State children in the right course.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs Christiana Abioye, said that the girl-child education was an essential tool to promote family and societal growth, discipline, development and progress of the society affirming that no society could survive without the active participation of women and girl child.
Mrs. Abioye charged them to stand up for their rights and speak out as the present administration ably led by Governor Seyi Makinde had been very sensitive to the issues of children.
While wishing them happy celebration, she appealed to all stakeholders to keep observing all the precautionary measures as laid down by health professional to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in our society.
