Special Adviser to the Ogun State government on education, Mrs Ronke Soyombo has advocated for an increased representation of women in the nation’s technical and scientific education system.
Soyombo, while lamenting that girls confront barriers such as gender-based violence, limited access to school and stereotypes that impede their advancement, stressed that those challenges should not define their narrative.
She spoke on Friday during the 2024 International Girl Child Day celebration organized by the Nigeria Association Of Women Journalists ( NAWOJ) Ogun chapter.
This year’s celebration themed, “Girls Vision For The Future: Our Vision, Our Voice”, was held at the cultural center, Abeokuta, the state capital.
Soyombo, speaking to students selected from the Alaba Lawson Group of schools, St John Anglican High School, Baptist Girls College, Abeokuta Grammar School, Nigeria Girls Guide, Folarin Dalley International College, Patterson Memorial Baptist Grammar School and Lisabi Grammar School encouraged them to focus on their careers and follow their dreams without any obstruction.
She said, “this day serves as a powerful reminder of the boundless potential, creativity, and resilience that girls possess. As we stand here, we recognize that the future belongs to our girls.
“We also acknowledge the obstacles that hinder their progress, gender-based violence, limited access to education, stereotypes and biases, and lack of representation, but we refuse to let these challenges define our narrative. Instead, we choose to empower, uplift, and amplify the voices of our girls.
“Our vision is of a world where girls have equal access to quality education, are free from fear, violence, and exploitation, can pursue their dreams without limitation hold leadership positions and shape policies. A world where girls can be scientists and artists, entrepreneurs, activists, leaders and innovators.”
Soyombo noted that instead of following bad peers on social media, young ladies should look up to role models such as Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, Folake Solanke, SAN, and Justice Maryam Mukhtar amongst other prominent women who achieved their dreams.
Speaking earlier in her welcome address, the Ogun NAWOJ chairperson, Sekinat Salam, urged parents to pay more attention to the girl child’s education and training by equipping them with the needful morals required to become a worthy woman of the envisioned future.
She reiterated the association’s commitment to advancing gender-sensitive reporting, empowering girls via training in media literacy and digital skills, and supporting laws that advance the protection, health, and education of the girl child.
The NAWOJ chairperson, however, charged Governor Dapo Abiodun to look more into the enrollment of girls in schools as well as the abuse of drugs among youths.
Similarly, Eucharia Ekwu, the state deputy commander of Narcotics, NDLEA, while urging the girl child to shun drug abuse, stated that a survey conducted by the command indicated that one in four drug abusers is a female and the state.
The state Comptroller, Nigeria Immigration Service, represented by DCI Olabisi Abati reassured the public that the command is making every effort to combat illegal migration and smuggling.
A sideline of the event was a health talk on menstrual hygiene by Dr Adanna Maduka of the Nigeria Police Medical Service, Ogun State, distribution of sanitary pads and a real-life story told by Aderike Temitope, a victim of human trafficking.
Girl Child Day: Ogun advocates increased representation of women in key positions