The Lagos State House of Assembly has emphasised the need for adequate and quality education for the girl child in Nigeria.
The House said this when the lawmaker representing Amuwo-Odofin 2, Mrs Mojisola Alli-Macaulay, under personal explanation, informed her colleagues during the plenary of the ‘International Day For The Girl Child’ celebrated every October 11.
Mrs Alli-Macaulay said there should be a deliberate policy to enable active participation of the girl child in governance when she becomes a woman.
She said, “The day is set aside for the celebration of the girl child’s rights. Every year, the girl child is encouraged and asked for opportunities to grow to maximise her potentials.
“This mitigates against gender-based violence, early marriage, discrimination, access to quality health services and violence which the girl child is facing around the world”.
Mr David Setonji (Badagry 2) described women as special beings in society and a need to support them in their various endeavours.
Setonji explained that encouraging a girl child in acquiring adequate education would have a positive effect on society.
Contributing, Mr Victor Akande (Ojo 2) advised parents not to be discriminatory in investing in their children, adding that investment in a girl child should not be seen as lost.
Akande added, ” We have to continue as parents to provide adequate education for the girl child so as to enable her stand on her own. We need to also empower the girl child for nation building”.
In his comments, Mr Richard Kasunmu (Ikeja 1) said the girl child should be encouraged to embrace digital education as the world has changed beyond traditional learning.
Kasumu added, ” We have many successful and resourceful women in our society who are currently heading several banks, industries and public offices. The girl child’s education is paramount to nation building and leadership. We must encourage them in digital education as it will help them to realise their dream”.
The Majority Leader, Hon Sanai Agunbiade, lamented on the high rate of single parents in Nigeria, saying that this had severe effects on the growing up of a girl child.
Agunbiade explained that the family system has broken down due to the neglect of the father’s role in a girl child, saying that there is a need to ensure a girl-child realises her potentials.
The lawmaker representing Alimosho Constituency 1, Chief Bisi Yusuff, said his investments in his girl children paid off for him as they are in handy to taking care of him than the boy children.
Yusuff said he is ready to give out his position to a female politician to encourage more women in the legislature, urging his colleagues to do the same.
Mr Abiodun Tobun (Epe 1) said it is easy to train a girl child if monitored well than his male counterpart, adding that the girl child remains a blessing to her parents.
Mr Tobun, however, canvassed for the celebration of the boy child despite all odds, saying that a lot of responsibilities were on the boy child when he grew up as a man.
The Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, who presided over the plenary session, eulogised women for their contributions to society.
Eshinlokun-Sanni said women had excelled in their various chosen careers spanning from law, businesses, politics and public governance to banking and corporate governance.
“For recording successes in various fields of their endeavors, we need to celebrate the girl children who are not women and mothers”, said Eshinlokun-Sanni.
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