Kenny Folarin, Abuja
As part of effort aimed at lending voices to the girl-child, a Mentee with Global Glow, Nigeria Reads, Samantha Umar has attributed Gender Based Violence (GBV), lack of basic education and host of other anomalies as factors surpressing the voices of the girl-child.
Samantha while speaking over the weekend in Abuja at the Summit hosted by Nigeria Reads and HAFAI, funded by Global Glow stated that gender based violence, lack of education, power discrimination and host of others if reduced will empower girls to be confident, speak out while they are girls hence know that they will grow to be confident women.
Samantha argued that girls are powerful and have all it takes to change the narrative of the nation if opportuned.
“To the government, girls are powerful , we have all that it takes to change the world and if given opportunity without limitations or barriers, Nigeria will change in aspect of governance, sport , the government should give girls access to education, education opens up the mind and make them enlightened to speak up”.
Also, Godwin Karen, Global Glow Mentee from Global Glow Nigeria stated that the regional summit bring girls from different parts of the world to comes together, build network and find solution to problems affecting girls.
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Karen explained that climate change has adversely affected the girls due to drought and to trek long distance to get water whilst their education suffer.
She noted that to curb this, trees have been planted and they have been taught ways on how to curb climate change impact using the tree means of sustainability which is reduce, reuse and recycle.
Sustainability Consultant and founder, Green Planting Emmanuella Onyeka on her part explained the tree planting was to show the girls how planting can mitigate climate change, to show them that they can be involved, and to let the girls know that planting is one of the mechanism that can mitigate the impact of climate change.
Onyeka opined that If the challenges facing the girls are reduced, there will be social justice, equal opportunity for girls in terms of education, voting, access to proper healthcare, they will be able to speak up and their voices will not just be heard but their opinion implemented at all levels of government.
Highlights of the event include distribution of sanitary bags to the girls by President Rotary Club of Wellington, District 1145 United Kingdom Rotarian Folashade Demuren, , Group work, Games, Photograph and Dance.