Intn’l Day of the Girl Child: Experts harp on girls as change agents

From Femi Oyelola Kaduna

A group, Toes to Heels Initiative has said the girls can be powerful agents of change, and nothing should keep them from participating fully in all areas of life
The Executive Secretary of the Group Amina Lawal Oriawo made the assertion during the a seminar to mark the International Day of the Girl Child held in Kaduna yesterday.
Speaking on the theme Girl Force: Unscripted Unstoppable, she said day aims to highlight and address the needs and challenges girls face, while promoting girls’ empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights.
“GirlForce: Unscripted and Unstoppable Nearly 25 years ago, some 30,000 women and men from nearly 200 countries arrived in Beijing, China for the Fourth World Conference on Women, determined to recognize the rights of women and girls as human rights.
“The conference culminated in the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: the most comprehensive policy agenda for the empowerment of women.
“We need to uphold the equal rights, voices and influence of girls in our families, communities and nations and I called on the Queens in this hall to be unstoppable and unscripted, “She said
In her remark, Safiyya Umar Ambursa tasked the students of Queen Amina College, the venue of the program to look inward and do whatever they have passion for, saying gone are the era of white collar Job.
Ambursa who is a graduate of Chemistry from Ahmadu Bello University said even though she is not from a rich family today she is successful and comfortable because of her tailoring business.
She promised that her academy will give free training to any of the students who are interested in tailoring.
Similarly, the first female officer to receive Sword of Honour (Army ) 66 Regular Course and Gold Medal (Army) 66 Regular Course of Nigeria Defence Acedemy NDA, 2nd Lt. Oluwaseun Ruth Oyetunde said girl child should have a mindset that they can achieve what their male counterpart can achieve.
2nd Lt. Oyetunde encouraged them that there may be obstacles and challenges on the road to success but determination and positive mind set will get the to their destination.