NAN-H-39
Women
By Yinusa Ishola
Omu-Aran (Kwara) March 8, 2017 (NAN) Prophet Christopher Owolabi, the General Overseer, Christ Apostolic Church, Ori-Oke Irapada, Omu-Aran, Kwara, has called for improvement in the girl-child education to allow emergence of more entrepreneurs and politicians among women.
Owolabi made the call in a message to mark the International Women’s Day in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area on Thursday.
The cleric described education as the bedrock and foundation for achieving socio-economic development.
“Education is meant for all; in fact, it is the fundamental human right of every child whether boy or girl, able or disabled to acquire the basic education.
“improvement in girl-child education in particular would assist more women climbing to the top in the nation’s political terrain and being appointed as captains of industries, ’’ he said.
The cleric said being born and growing up as a girl in developing countries like Nigeria, was becoming very difficult due to unfavourable socio-economic, cultural and security challenges.
According to Owolabi, the cumulative effects of discriminatory, exploitative and unjust treatment of girl-children have had negative impacts on the education opportunity for such category of the citizens.
He said the present socio-economic realities had also imposed serious challenge on governments at all levels to embrace entrepreneurship as alternative for national growth and development.
Owolabi, therefore, expressed the need for a strong political will from government and more parental responsibility and commitment in actualising the desired improvement in the Girls Education Projects for future benefit.
“Majority of the nation’s top political positions are currently dominated by men.
“This is a clear challenge to the women folk, who as mothers of the nation, deserve same equal and fair treatment.
“To majority of the parents, girl-child education is less important because no matter what level of education the girl attains, she gets married and answers another family’s name.
“Both governments and parents should therefore accord priority and channel adequate resources toward improving the education of girl-children for more women as entrepreneurs and politicians to emerge,’’ he said.
The cleric identified religious misinterpretation, cultural practice, poverty, early marriage, illiteracy, inadequate school infrastructure as some of the factors militating against girl-child education.
He suggested promoting the employment of more female teachers in the rural areas as well as building institutional capacity for promoting girl-child education and capacity of stakeholders as some of the way forward.
Owolabi advised Nigerian women, irrespective of their ethno-religious background, to reflect on the Women’s Day celebration and rise up in offering workable solutions to the nation’s socio-economic challenges. (NAN)
ISHO/AJA
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(Edited by Adeleye Ajayi)