…promises enabling, secure environment for girl child in Ekiti
By Precious Oham
A group, Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment, AGILE, has carried out sensitization of women, girls and key stakeholders on the importance of adolescent education for all school age children in Ekiti State.
The sensitization campaign tagged “Town Hall Meeting with Key Stakeholders in Adolescent Education and Empowerment” held at Aramoko District Commercial Secondary School, ADICO, Aramoko-Ekiti, on Wednesday.
The programme had in attendance, stakeholders such as students, artisans, business women and men; market women, youths, principals of secondary schools, teachers, traditional and religious leaders.
In her welcome remark, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, represented by Modupe Adebayo, charged the participants to embrace adolescent education among the girl-child and boy noting that gone are the days when children are neglected.
“We are here because of our children. It is only in Ekiti in the whole of South-West that are benefiting from this project. We want to see how we can protect our girl-child. We don’t want to see them roaming around the streets. We are in the era of seeing more of our children in schools. We must also take care of our boys.”
On her own, wife of Alara of Aramoko-Ekiti, Olori Adenike Adeyemi, showered encomium on the state government and the group for the programme saying that it will aid civilization to the community.
Her words: “We really appreciate the efforts of the government for giving us this opportunity. It’s a great one. This programme will bring more civilization in our community. Our children will be more responsible because when they finish their secondary school education, they need to start something immediately so that they won’t be useless in the community.”
In the same vein, wife of the Chairman of Ekameta Local Council Development Area, Oyebola Rhoda said the programme will impact positively on the adolescent girls through vocational training.
Highlights of the event were sensitization sessions by AGILE Resource Speakers on Life Skills, Digital Skills, Gender Based Violence, Grievance Redress Mechanism among others.