Sinach Obi
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Imo State Chapter led by Dorothy Nnaji Ph.D has encouraged abd advised the girl child to remain vision driven.
This was said as the Association embarked on on a awareness campaign in commemoration of this year’s International Day of the Girl Child in Obazu Girls secondary school, Mbieri in Mbaitoli LGA.
Dr. Dorothy Nnaji disclosed that the “International Day of Girl Child is an annual reminder of the critical roles to be played by individuals, society, and the girl child in shaping the future of the girl child.”
This year’s theme, ” Girls’ vision for the future,” shows the resilience and hopefulness of girls despite the challenges they face, She said.
As she insisted that the Association is here to interface with the girls and thinker ways to reduce and accelerate their progress towards a future in which every girl child potential is fulfilled.
She reiterated that ” there is nothing impossible for the girl child to achieve, even the careers that are stereotyped to be exclusive right of their male counterpart.”
In her words, “You can be whomever you want to be,if you dream it, live it, work it, you can achieve it. Whatever you want to be starts from your vision.”
The NAWOJ Chairman emphasized that the essence of this year’s theme is to build up the consciousness of the girl child, to become a vision driven child with the sole aim of achieving such vision .
The Chairman encouraged the students to be children with purpose and vision and carry themselves with dignity to become a voice that the world will be proud of.
Mrs Ukachi Ukah, the Assistant National Director of Human Right Commission, Abia state in her words, emphasizes the importance of empowering girls through education, access to healthcare, and protection from violence and discrimination.
Ukachi Ukah enlightened the girls on their rights, such as Rights to claims and entitlements given to them by God, which nobody should take away from them.
She said, ” These rights are to be enjoyed irrespective of their age and gender.” As she went further to enlist the rights as follows, Right to Association, Right to education, Right to survival and development etc and their responsibilities as it is enshrined in the legal document that protects the rights of children.
Ukachi advised the girls to call Human Right Commission, Imo NAWOJ, and other women agencies that protect the rights of children in case of any form of violation of their rights. She encouraged them to be obedient to their parents, teachers, etc.
Responding, Mrs Egwuagu Peace, the Principal junior girls secondary school Obazu , thanked Imo NAWOJ for choosing Obazu Girls Secondary School for the commemoration of this year’s International Day of the Girl -Child , as the students are truly enriched by your teachings and promised to imbibe and respect the rights of the girl child.
In a vote of thanks, the Deputy Senior Prefect Miss Bethel Winner, on behalf of the school expressed gratitude to Imo NAWOJ for finding them worthy to be a partaker of this year event and promised that as a girl child, they will speak out whenever their rights are being violated by anyone not minding the age or the gender and also they will practice all that they have learnt in today’s teachings.
