Anyanwu-Akeredolu gave examples of women including herself who overcame various challenges in their quest to shatter the proverbial “glass ceiling”.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The First Lady of Ondo State, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has saluted Nigerian girls and women as the world marks the 2022 International Day of the Girl Child.
She reiterated her commitment and dedication to building strong female leaders of the future.
These were contained in a statement signed by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Oluwatobi Fademi, on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
The International Day of the Girl Child is a day declared by the United Nations that seeks to empower girls and highlight the needs and challenges that girls face throughout the globe.
Anyanwu-Akeredolu, who is the founder of the Bemore Empowered Girls Foundation, a girls-only Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and solar boot camp, said that she would never relent on her passion for building girls in areas of leadership and technology.
She assured that she will continue to ensure that the female child is empowered to help the nation overcome various obstacles.
Mrs Akeredolu said on her work so far in development of girls: “On the Sept. 3rd, 388 young girls graduated from the 2022 Bemore Summer Bootcamp, making a total of over 2000 girls who had gone through rigorous two weeks of training expanding their skills and capacity.
“They were trained in ICT and solar technology to demystify science and technology and put a lie to the age-long prejudice about these fields being the exclusive preserve of men.
“They have been armed with life-enhancing skills so that they can have financial security and defeat poverty. We have taught them that leadership is gender-neutral.”
On the theme of 2022 international day of the girl child “Our time is now- Our rights, our future”, Anyanwu-Akeredolu gave examples of women including herself who overcame various challenges in their quest to shatter the proverbial “glass ceiling”.
According to her, whatever the male counterpart can do, the female can likewise do, and even do better, adding, “It is indeed our time!”
“My story, as a village girl from the remote Emeabiam, Owerri West, Imo State, who faced and scaled many hurdles to become a towering First Lady should remind you that female education is not a waste.
“Kamala Harris’ story as the 49th United States Vice-President should remind you that girls can be more.
“Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the 24th President of Liberia and the First elected female Head of State in Africa, has demonstrated to you that a woman can lead a country and that leadership is about capacity and not about gender.
“Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who now serves as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization is the first woman and first African to lead the Organization as president tells of the capacity of a woman.
“Our own Professor Adenike Oladiji, of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), has proven to you that a woman can reach the zenith of her academic career and also become the head of a university.
“Team Nigeria, at the 22nd edition of the Commonwealth Games, which was concluded on August 8 in Birmingham, United Kingdom won the most medals.
“The Nigerian team won 12 gold, nine silver, and 14 bronze medals. Women won all 12 gold medals and currently, in Iran, teenage girls are leading the protests for women’s rights,” she said.
She used the occasion to encourage young girls in Ondo State and beyond to aim higher, saying gone are the days girls played second fiddle.
However, she noted that girls around the world continue to meet tremendous hurdles to their education, physical and emotional welfare, and the protection needed for a life free of violence.
“Over the years there has been increased attention on issues that matter to girls amongst governments, policymakers and the general public, and more opportunities for girls to have their voices heard on the global stage.
“Yet, investments in girls’ rights remain limited and girls continue to confront a myriad of challenges to fulfilling their potential including child marriages, poor learning opportunities, violence, and discrimination.
The First Lady called on stakeholders to nurture spaces for gender inclusion in decision-making, support quality, inclusive education and prioritise the well-being of young girls.