WORLD GIRL-CHILD DAY: Girl-Child Abuse, Marginalization Bane Of Nigeria Development – ABOLGA/AELGA NDYP Rep
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by Awowoyin Omoyemi Omolola The member representing Abua/Odual and Ahoada East Local Government Areas in the Niger Delta Youth Parliament, Hon Ununuma Bidemi Edward-Odoi says the continuous marginalization, abuse and exploitation of the girl child will make the country remain underdeveloped.
Hon Edward-Odoi, who made the assertion in commemoration of this year’s International Day of the Girl Child, maintained that the Girl Child should be entitled to a life free of violence and discrimination.
She noted that the girl child education be made a priority by parents, as according to her; ‘education is key, when girls are educated, it would reduce teenage pregnancy, helps them become more self-reliant and committed to the nation’s progress. When girls are denied education, you are denying roughly half of the nation’s population from being emancipated and preventing progress.
“Until we generate public will, we cannot generate political will to force our leaders to do the right thing. Nigeria accounts for more than one in five out-of-school children in the world.
“Although, primary education is officially free and compulsory, only 67% of eligible children take up a place in primary school.
Girls suffer more than boys in terms of missing out on education.
“In the Northeast, only 41% of eligible girls receive primary education and 47% in the Northwest. Social attitudes also impact negatively on education rates, especially in northern Nigeria.
“As we speak, girls that get pregnant are still being expelled from school and according to the Child Rights Act (CRA), this shouldn’t be so.”
The youth parliamentarian further hinted that: “The last few years have seen a steady rise in the number of girls being sexually abused and suffering other forms of abuse and molestations. Over 2,146 girls have suffered abuse in the last two years while almost 300 suffered defilement and rape.”
She lamented that girl children are facing emotional abuse, molestation, harassment, child abuse, neglect and zero parental care in addition to the already pre-existing issues.
She urged parents and the government to do more to stem the deplorable number of rising abuse on girl children, added that everyone should proactively play their part.
Hon Edward-Odoi further said: “As a Girl-Chlid, I have identified the following as stumbling blocks; poverty, gender-based violence, sexual and
physical abuse against the girl child.
“The Nigerian girl child is dealing with a plethora of issues and till today, many girls still struggle with sanitary health, zero access to sanitary hygiene and products, and miss school due to this, as well as lack of toilets.”
She called for adequate protection of the girl-child and equal opportunities given as their male counterparts.
Her words: “In Nigeria, it is a struggle for girls to survive childhood. They face multiple and systemic violence, abuse, and neglect based on their gender.
“They are victims of growing sexual abuse and exploitation, including human trafficking, abuse as domestic help, female genital mutilation, as well as early and forced marriages, among other harmful and discriminatory social norms.”
On child bride, she revealed that Nigeria has the largest number of child brides in Africa: 23 million girls and women were married as children.
She appealed that the girl-child be given a voice, opportunities and empowerment towards building capacities to thrive like everyone and bridge the gender inequality gap in leadership, stressed that the girl-child deserves all the love and attention like her male counterpart and should have equal access to everything.
The youth Rep urged parents as a matter of urgency to introduce sex education in their homes to avoid misconception by the children, opined that the benefits of empowering a Girl-Child can not be overemphasized.
The Member Representing, Abua-Odual/Ahoada-East LGAs in
Niger Delta Youth Parliament (NDYP)
ongratulated all Girl-Child in the world.
