Discussants Make Case for Girl-Child Protection

Discussants have advised parents to take priority in nurturing their children, especially the girl-child; by giving them sound education and making them aware of their rights in order to prevent them from gender-based violence and discrimination. They gave the advice while featuring on the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State radio station, FUNAAB Radio 89.5FM live interactive, Boiling Point. The programme was in commemoration of the 2021 International Day of Girl-Child with the theme, “Digital Generation: Our Generation”. They argued that every child must be treated equally. According to the Director, Budding Leaders Empowerment Initiative, Prof. Iyabo Kehinde, parents should always be ready to hear their children, especially the girl-child, whom she described as emotional and sensitive while emphasising that girls were more vulnerable, thus making them subject to attacks.
“A girl-child is one who is a female and prone to many vulnerabilities that the other sex may not be prone to”, she said. Also, the General Secretary, Child Protection Network, Ogun State, Mrs. Oviutu Adeleke, asked parents to take the issue of their female children more seriously so that they can confide in them. According to Mrs. Adeleke, “Mothers should take the issue of their children seriously and they should know that there are modes of correcting their children by showing love to them”. In the same vein, a legal practitioner, Barr. Clement Obasanya, urged parents to create good relationships with their children by informing them regularly on things they need to know, particularly their rights, stating that “If you are not informed, you will be deformed”, he noted. The discussants enjoined all to take proper care of girls to enable them to contribute meaningfully to the upliftment of society.