UNICEF, Kwara, Others Caution Against Girl-Child Discrimination

The Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq has warned parents and guardians to refrain from discriminating against the girl-child, reminding them that the girl-child has equal potential as the boy-child, even as he insisted that the state government will continue to empower the girl-child.

AbdulRazaq gave this warning on Friday during the 2024 International Girl-Child’s Day event with the theme: “Girl Vision for the Future,” organised by the State Ministry of Women Affairs, which was held at the Stella Obasanjo Multipurpose Hall, Ilorin.

The governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, reminded that the Child’s Rights Law, Violence Against Persons, and Prohibition Gender Composition Law, among others, were still in force in the state to guide against victimisation of the female members of the state.

“These laws ensure that children have compulsory education and get full protection against all forms of violence, molestation or discrimination,” she emphasised.

The governor, through his Commissioner, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for the girl-child to attain her full potential.

The First Lady of Kwara State, Professor Olufolake AbdulRazaq, who was also represented by the Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Dr Afeez Alabi Abolore, assured the sitting that her office will continue to advocate for policies that would expand girls’ access to education, healthcare and protection from violence and exploitation.

In her welcome address, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Opeyemi Afolashade, commended both the governor and his First Lady for restoring the integrity of the girl-child through the Committee on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the state.

Afolashade said, “We hail the purposeful Chairmanship of our darling mother, the First Lady of Kwara State, Her Excellency, Amb. (Prof) Olufluke AbdulRazaq for restoring integrity to the girl-child in the state through the 21 persons committee on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.”

While observing that prominent women had contributed to the development of the nation, Afolashade, thus described the girl-child as an integral part of society, with lofty ideas and intelligence.

The Keynote Speaker, Professor Biola Adimula, tasked female children to acquire quality education to forestall inequality and discrimination.

Adimula said the education of the girl-child will enable them to compete favourably with their male counterpart while identifying poverty, cultural norms, and inadequate infrastructures as encumbrances to the survival of female children.

She cautioned female children against drug abuse, premarital sex, prostitution, alcoholism, cultism, fraud, and other ignoble acts capable of ruining their future.