By Precious Oham
A Non Governmental Organization, Balm in Gilead foundation for Sustainable development (BIGIF), has tasked media professionals to promote girl-child education in Ekiti State.
It made the call Ado Ekiti at a one-day Media Roundtable on Girl-Child Education.
According to the Executive Director of BIGIF, Ms. Oluwatumininu Adedeji, the programme was aimed at engaging media professionals on the need to coordinate strategic communications in addressing poverty, promoting gender equality, and
changing cultural beliefs and practices that limit the opportunities available to girls.
She noted that the group was commissioned as a Consultant by the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment, AGILE,
Ekiti State with the support of the World Bank to undertake a state-wide research on the subject.
Her words: “Balm in Gilead foundation for Sustainable development (BIGIF) is honored to have
the opportunity to engage with you at this event. We know that the media controls the society and is capable of changing human behavior, living style and morals thoughts
through positive messaging.
“The socio-economic factors and cultural norms affecting girl child
education in Nigeria are complex and intertwined. Addressing these factors requires a
multi-faceted approach that involves addressing poverty, promoting gender equality, and
changing cultural beliefs and practices that limit the opportunities available to girls.
“Coordinated and strategic communication is one way to achieve this. And that is why we are
gathered here today. Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of our adolescent girls, and ultimately,
in the future of our society.”
Speaking at the event, representative of the Project Coordinator of AGILE, Mrs Modupe Ajayi said the focus of AGILE is to ensure the enrolment of adolescent girls in schools in the state and also developing life skills that will help them to navigate adulthood.
Highlights of the event were interactive and break-out sessions with the aim of addressing the behavioural problems, among other factors that hinders girl-child education in the state.