INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL CHILD 2017
Sequel to the research carried out on Gender based violence among secondary school students, a program was conducted by Paaneah Foundation in respect of the International Day of the Girl Child themed “EMPOWER GIRLS: Before, during and after crises” on Wednesday, 11th October, 2017, at ANSAR-UR-DEEN Comprehensive college, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.
The International Day of the Girl Child, is an international observance day declared by the United Nations since 2012. The 11th of October has been marked as the International day of the girl child with the aim of highlighting the needs and challenges girls face as well as promoting empowerment and fulfilment of their human rights. Paaneah Foundation, fully recognizes the potential, power energy and creativity of young girls and boys, and therefore celebrated this year’s international day of the girl child in line with her mission “to catalyze, promote and support the development and wellbeing of adolescents and youths, particularly the most vulnerable so as to attain excellence in every dimension of life”.
The Objectives of the Program were to create an awareness; to discourage all forms of Girl Child Abuse; to highlight and address the needs and challenges girls face; to promote the girl’s empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.
The program had an educational and inspirational focus and was designed to feature a speech by Mrs Amope Chokor, the Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Commission, Abeokuta, addressing the needs and challenges of the girl child and an impromptu speech competition amongst the students. The speaker focused around the theme of the programme with strong emphasis on the endless possibilities of an empowered girl child.
The Impromptu Speech competition was an electrifying part of the program as the students spoke boldly about the challenges the girl child faces and the key factors in addressing these challenges. It was evident from their speech, there is a lot seeking to find expression from the girl child.
The program was intended for five secondary schools in Ota namely: Ansar-ur-deen Junior School, Ansar-ur-deen Senior School, St Michael Senior School, Iganmode Junior School, Iganmode Senior School, hence a total number of 100 students were in attendance, accompanied by their Vice-Principals and two teachers from each school.
The total number of four invited guests were present at the program: The Oba Onilogbo of Ilogbo, the Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Commission, Abeokuta, in person of Mrs Amope Chokor, who was the guest speaker for the day; the Zonal Representative and the Vice President of Paaneah Foundation Advisory Board in person of Mrs Eniola Yokun.
In all, the programme was highly inspiring and impactful. The students expressed their joy and satisfaction at such a programme being held once in a while.
