10th September, 2014
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Wednesday urged government at all levels to focus on the empowerment of the girl child.
He spoke in Ibadan at the opening of a three-day National Women’s Summit organised by the Oyo State Officials’ Wives Association (OYSOWA).
The summit had as theme: “Girl Child Empowerment, a Challenge for all.”
The governor said focusing on the empowerment of the girl child would produce a better society.
Ajimobi said the society had been unfair to the girl child, adding that their humiliation had been systematic.
He, however, said that his administration had taken steps to ensure the empowerment of the girl child in the state.
“I believe in the empowerment of the girl child; this administration also believes that the call to empower the girl child is a call to service, a call to build a great future and a call to humanity, ” he said.
The wife of the governor and chairperson of the occasion, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, said the group was created to help give focus to the efforts of wives of all political and public office holders in the state.
“This is in order to complement the activities of our husbands and to advance the cause of the women folk and children in Oyo State,’’ he said.
She said the forum was to create a platform for women to discuss issues affecting women and offer practical solutions and recommendations.
Speaking at the occasion, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, the spokesperson of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, said the condition of the girl child remains critical to the survival of any nation.
She said the challenges of the girl child include early marriage, physical sexual abuse, child labour and child prostitution.
“It is 149 days today since our girls were abducted by terrorists, the rescue effort remains the collective efforts off all,’’ she said.
She called on the Federal Government to further strengthen the law enforcement agencies in rescuing the girl child.
Okei-Odumakin commended the governor’s wife for working tirelessly to ensure that the girl child was empowered.
An award of leadership role and development was presented to the governor’s wife.