Mr. Babatunde Abdulkareem, a Lecturer in Kwara State College of Education, Oro, has advised parents to invest in girl-child education, saying female children are nation builders.
Abdulkareem, Head of Department of Political Science, gave the advice while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Thursday.
He said that most parents regarded girl-child education as not necessary and, therefore, not ready to sponsor their education.
According to him, some parents prefer to force their girl-child to early marriage than investing in her education.
“It is time to take female-child education seriously and not seeing it as optional. Girls are very useful and not useless as perceived by most people.
“They grow up to become mothers with the task of building a nation. Mothers are nation builders.
READ ALSO: 2019 Election: PDP attacks Buhari over comment on FCT residents
“How can they build the nation when they lack the necessary education ingredients?
“They also have the right to education and not only the male-child. Even some female-child are more talented and intelligent than the male-child if supported.
“Parents need change of mentality toward girl-child,’’ Abdulkareem said.
He, however, called on the public to stop seeing women as inferior and second- best, that were only useful for domestic purpose.
“Girls are not push-overs. They will become mothers if properly managed and given opportunity they deserve,’’ he said.
The lecturer, however, called on media practitioners to write, campaign, inform and orientate the public via billboard advertisement, commercials, radio and drama on importance of girl-child education to the society.
“I will also urge religious leaders, government and schools to always organise seminars to orientate the public by changing their negative perception toward girl- child,’’ he said.
