Chukwudike Ndubeze, Awka.
Some stakeholders in Anambra State have called for the empowerment of the girl child to gain leadership positions and play leadership roles in society.
The brainstorming session was organized by the Nigerian Girl Guides Association, NGGA, Anambra State, during its Focus Group Discussion, FGD, held in Awka with the theme, “Empower Her, She Leads.”
Declaring the event open, the association’s state commissioner, Mrs Charity Ezeakunne, harped on the imperative of women empowerment, noting that “gone are days when women should be relegated to the background in the scheme of things in society.”
According to Mrs Ezeakunne, women empowerment means to empower a girl child, train her and give her the wherewithal to make positive and effective exploits in the society.
Also, the state adviser, Mrs Uche Orakwute reminded participants the historic events that gave birth to the famous Girl Guides; an association she said was established to champion women’s cause in society as well as inculcate the culture of discipline and positive moral values into growing girls.
In her contribution, Trefoil Guide Member, Lady Ada Ebele Dike, said the association “teaches good principles and love to enable girls and young women lead society properly.
“We have been empowering, enforcing quality training on our girls to be good leaders in society because for them to lead, they must love unconditionally.”
Stakeholders who spoke at the event said “early marriage, pregnancy, lack of funding and poverty; insecurity, disability cultural limitations and trafficking are key factors hindering the girl child from aspiring for leadership positions in the society”.
They insisted that the girl child could be empowered to become their strongest selves by advocating, upholding, defending and promoting their rights and ensuring that girls obtain good training right from the early stages of their lives.
According to them, government must rise to its responsibility of protecting the girl child from being subjected to violent and obnoxious cultural practices in society.
