The Lagos State House of Assembly has emphasised the need for adequate and quality education for the girl child in Nigeria.
The House said this when the lawmaker representing Amuwo-Odofin 2, Hon. Mojisola Macaulay, under personal explanation, informed her colleagues during the plenary on Monday of the ‘ International Day For The Girl Child’.
Macaulay said there should be a deliberate policy to enable active participation of the girl child in governance when she becomes a woman.
She said ” The day is set aside for the celebration of the girl child’s rights. Every year, the girl child is encouraged and asked for opportunities to grow so as to maximise her potentials.
“This mitigates against gender-based violence, early marriage, discrimination, access to quality health services and violence which the girl child is facing around the world.”
In his contribution, Hon. David Setonji (Badagry 2), described women as special beings in society and that there is a need to support them in their various endeavours.
Setonji explained that encouraging a girl child in acquiring adequate education would have a positive effect on society.
Contributing, Hon. Victor Akande (Ojo 2), advised parents not to be discriminatory in investing in their children, adding that investment in a girl child should not be seen as lost.
Akande added, “We have to continue as parents to provide adequate education for the girl child so as to enable her to stand on her own. We need to also empower the girl child for nation-building”.
Hon. Richard Kasunmu (Ikeja 1), in his comments, said the girl child should be encouraged to embrace digital education as the world has changed beyond the traditional way of learning.
Kasunmu added ” We have many successful and resourceful women in our society who are currently heading several banks, industries and public offices. The girl child’s education is paramount to nation-building and leadership. We must encourage them in digital education as it will help them to realize their dream.”
The Majority Leader, Hon Sanai Agunbiade, lamented on the high rate of single parents in Nigeria, saying that this had severe effects on the growing up of a girl child.
Agunbiade explained that the family system has broken down due to the neglect of the role of the father in a girl child, saying that there is a need to ensure a girl-child realises her potentials.
The lawmaker representing Alimosho Constituency 1, Hon. Bisi Yusuff said his investments in his girl children paid off for him as they are in handy to taking care of him than the boy children.
Yusuff said he is ready to give out his position to a female politician so as to encourage more women in the legislature, urging his colleagues to do the same.
Hon. Abiodun Tobun (Epe 1), said it is easy to train a girl child if monitored well than his male counterpart, adding that the girl child remains a blessing to her parents.
Tobun, however, canvassed for the celebration of the boy child despite all odds, saying that a lot of responsibilities were on the boy child when he grows up as a man.
However, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, who presided over the plenary session, eulogised the women folks, saying that their contributions to societal development cannot be overemphasised.
Eshinlokun-Sanni said the women folks had excelled in their various chosen careers spanning from, law, businesses, politics and public governance, banking and corporate governance.
“For recording successes in various fields of their endeavours, we need to celebrate the girl children who are not women and mothers”, said Eshinlokun-Sanni.