In a bid to ensure the realization of the Sustainable Development Goal 4 on Universal primary and secondary education for all, Lassie Foundation, a non-governmental organization has advocated for support the girl-child in the country.
The Convener, Barrister Pamela Ozigbo while speaking recently at an outreach at Kuchingoro Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp in Abuja stated that government and stakeholders need to ensure that every girl-child have access to education and basic health services in the country.
Ozigbo who lamented the increase in gender based violence in the country, said her organisation over the years have been in the forefront, advocating for the rights of the girl-child, hence every girl-child deserves their rightful place in the society.
She however opined that high representation of women at the National Assembly would help mitigate the effects and many challenges of the girl-child hence enjoined participation of more women in politics and be a voice for the girl-child.
Meanwhile Barrister Ozigbu stated that the foundation has adequate plans to drastically reduce the number of girls on the streets .
Her words:
“At lassie foundation one of our core projects for this year is to reduce the number of disadvantaged girl-child on the streets, by doing this, we’ll be able to empower them with desired skills”.
Corroborating, an associates of the foundation and founder, Star Crest for Women in Africa Foundation, Barrister Esther Omenka stated that women are always marginalized in Africa considering the patriarchal mentality that it’s a man’s world.
Omenka lamented that women are not given enough opportunities and privileges stated that her NGO is fully committed to bridging the gap.
Her words:
“My NGO is about the empowerment so for underprivileged women or children across the African continent, and we can’t do that without including girl child in our scope.
“We have organized several Back to School programs for the underprivileged African child because we believe that every child, every African child deserves to go to school and have basic universal education,”.