NAN-H-77
Girls
Isaac Aregbesola
Abuja, Oct. 11, 2016 (NAN) The Charge’ d’ Affairs of the U.S. Mission in Nigeria, David Young,
on Tuesday, said America was committed to supporting the campaign to end violence against women, children in Nigeria.
Young stated this in Abuja at the commemoration of the 2016 International Day of the Girl-Child with the theme “Africa4Her.”
He said “we work with Nigerians to ensure the right of every Nigerian woman and girls to live free-Free from physical and emotional abuse at school, at home and in the work place.
“We work to see that she is respected and protected.
“We need to help girls across this country, from all walks of life, not only in crisis. They need the opportunity to grow up safe and healthy, free from violence and abuse.
“They need the chance to be educated to make decisions for themselves about their destinies, what they want to do in life, who they want to love, how they will live, and what they will believe.”
According to him, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is working with Nigeria to narrow its gender gaps in many areas such as education, health, political participation and economic empowerment.
He said that USAID had educational programmes in the northern part of the country focused on ensuring that girls do not only enter and stay in school, but also received quality education.
He added that USAID had developed safe spaces for women and girls affected by the ongoing conflict in the North East.
“USAID health programme encourages girls to delay pregnancy until an appropriate age, and focus on family planning and disease prevention to improve health outcomes for girls and young women throughout Nigeria,” he said
The envoy commended the Nigerian Senate over the Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill, which seeks to ensure equal employment opportunities for women and freedom from all social violence that has passed second reading.
Mrs Ijeoma Soroch-Okorie, the Project Director, Teens Global Foundation and facilitator of “Every Woman is a Star Conference” in her remarks said that there was the need to empower the girl-child through education.
She added that “investing in girls through education is empowering our nation, our girls should have basic rights to education, healthcare, food; and our women must have their voices heard.
“Girls all over the world face discrimination on daily basis. We should know that the progress of girls in the society is also for families and communities.” (NAN)
IAA/ASS/HA
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(Edited by Saidu Adamu/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)