Kwara State Governor Mallam Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq has urged parents and guardians to cease discriminating against the girl-child, emphasizing that girls possess equal potential as boys.
The governor also reiterated the state government’s dedication to empowering the girl-child, ensuring their access to education and protection from harm.
AbdulRazaq made the statement during the 2024 International Day of the Girl-Child celebration, themed “Girl Vision for the Future,” organized by the State Ministry of Women Affairs at the Stella Obasanjo Multipurpose Hall in Ilorin.
Represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, the governor highlighted the importance of upholding laws such as the Child’s Rights Law and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Gender Composition Law to safeguard girls from violence, discrimination, and molestation.
“These laws ensure that children have access to compulsory education and full protection against all forms of violence, molestation, or discrimination,” said El-Imam, reinforcing the government’s commitment to creating a conducive environment for girls to realize their full potential.
The First Lady of Kwara State, Professor Olufolake AbdulRazaq, also sent a message through the Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Dr. Afeez Alabi Abolore, assuring continued advocacy for policies promoting girls’ access to education, healthcare, and protection from violence and exploitation.
In her welcome address, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Opeyemi Afolashade, praised the governor and the First Lady for their efforts to protect and restore the integrity of the girl-child.
She specifically commended the First Lady’s leadership in establishing the Committee on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, which has been instrumental in tackling abuse in the state.
“We applaud the chairmanship of our beloved mother, the First Lady of Kwara State, Her Excellency, Amb. (Prof.) Olufolake AbdulRazaq, for her leadership in restoring integrity to the girl-child through the 21-person Committee on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence,” Afolashade said.
She went on to highlight the vital role of women in national development and described the girl-child as an intelligent and integral part of society with promising ideas for the future.
The event’s keynote speaker, Professor Biola Adimula, urged girls to prioritize education, which she described as crucial to overcoming inequality and discrimination.
Adimula stressed that a well-educated girl-child could compete favorably with her male counterparts while also pointing out the challenges of poverty, cultural norms, and insufficient infrastructure that hinder the progress of many girls.
Adimula also cautioned girls against engaging in harmful behaviors such as drug abuse, premarital sex, prostitution, alcoholism, cultism, and fraud, warning that these could jeopardize their future aspirations.
The event underscored the Kwara State government’s ongoing commitment to the welfare and empowerment of the girl-child, calling for continued vigilance in protecting their rights and promoting their education.
