By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
The Girl child in Nigeria has been reminded that she has the right to explore the horizon around her to enable her attain the highest heights of her lifetime.
The assertion was made by the Executive Director of a Bauchi based NGO, Alwadata Lifeline Initiative, Mrs Winniefred Robinson during the celebration of the 2024 International Day of the Girl Child held at Bluebird, Bauchi on Friday.
The ceremony was part of the ASPIRE project funded by the Global Affairs Canada (GAC) implemented by Plan International.
She stressed that the theme of celebration is: ‘Girls’ Vision for the Future’ which is aimed at letting the girl child know that she cannot be limited by any circumstances as she has the potentials to be great.
The ED who is a Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management Educator further stressed that, “The aim is to open the inner hearts of the Girl Child to realize that the horizons is large enough for her to thrive and compete with others to get to the top.”
According to her, “We are here at Bluebird Elementary High School to celebrate the 2024 International Day of the Girl Child. As you know, the theme for 2024 is: ‘Girls’ Vision for the Future’. What we are saying is that the Girl child need to be given the opportunity to thrive and grow irrespective of what the society tries to mussel her, but then, the future of the Girl Child lies in the opportunity that is given to her. So, that is the reason why we are here today.”
She added that,”We want to have the avenue to express themselves, all the things we will be doing here today will be done by the girls, drama presentations, talks and other things. The aim is to build their confidence to enhance their dignity and to let them know that they can become whatever they want to become as long as they have the vision for their future. We are here to celebrate with them.”
According to her,”We are implementing the ASPIRE Project being implemented by Plan International and funded by the Global Affairs Canada (GAC), that is what we have come here to do.”
Winniefred Robinson stressed that, “There has been a lot of awareness creation and sensitization all over. The Gender Based Violence (GBV) is always against the adolescent girls, it cannot be eradicated in one day, let the Girl Child know when she is being abused, you know that some people don’t know when they are being abused.”
According to her, “Abuse can take many forms, we have emotional, psychological and others. If the Girl child is not aware of the situations that are abuses, they may not know that they are being abused and just take it as the normal things that happen in the society.”
She stressed that different talks will be presented to widen the scope of the understanding of the girls, enlighten and sensitise them to know when they are being abused and to also encourage them.
The ED stressed that,”What we will also do is to tell the School to create a safe space for the girls, that is very key, and very important. My NGO has as one of its thematic areas sexual and reproductive rights and one key part we work on is menstrual Hygiene.”
“So, for everything we do, we always bring it up because, that is one of the ways that can keep the Girl child out of school if she’s not able to take care of herself, if she doesn’t have a safe space where she can change in dignity, these are the things we are telling them, that it is there fundamental human rights as a Girl to have a safe space to go to school, to change her sanitary pads to speak up in class and wherever she is,” She stressed.
“Also telling them to speak up, to be confident if she is not comfortable with some parts of her body that is being touched. We let them the areas and parts of their bodies that must not be touched in whatever circumstances, it should only be touched by them, not by their mothers, fathers and siblings and definitely not by strangers or teachers,” She added.
Furthermore, Winniefred Robinson said that, “When such things happen, they should know that they are being violated, so, violation does not just mean maybe sex, or penetration, even some body parts when touched, becomes violation, so, we let them know these things.”
According to her, “One of the things we are bringing out from the theme is that the Girls should be champions of themselves, we must go beyond just education, let the girls know that aside from being educated, there are some cultural norms that they must breakaway from, they can go beyond just doing unpaid jobs.”
Winniefred Robinson concluded saying,”All we want to do is to let the Girl Child know that she can whatever she sets out to do, not just because she is a girl but a human being who has a wide horizon to explore.”
Also speaking, Principal of the School, Mrs Chidinma Samuel commended Alwadata Lifeline Initiative and the partners for finding the School worthy of hosting the 2024 International Day of the Girl Child celebration, saying that it is a recognition the School will forever cherish.
She stressed the importance of educating the Girl child for a better future pointing out that the choice of the theme for the year was very apt and revealing as according to her, “The Girl Child has the opportunity to get to top of her chosen field. The horizon is large enough for her to thrive.”
The Principal added that as a School, the Management is conscious of the need to empower the Girl Child through education and sound teaching to enable her know who she is, not a weakling but a human being created with a lot of potentials.
She assured that the School will try to build from the programme in order to ensure that the Girl Child has the confidence to navigate the horizon and come out on top of the ladder.
According to her, “The Girl child can become any professional she chooses to be with ease no matter the competition from the male counterpart.”
Some of the Students who spoke to Journalists expressed happiness that their School was chosen for the celebration saying that it has really opened their minds and increased their knowledge about self esteem.
They variously assured that they will pursue their dreams until they get to their peak not minding the obstacles ahead.
The celebration featured drama, talks and other educational presentations aimed at creating awareness of the rights of the Girl Child.