Why we remain committed to girl-child dev’t – FCTA Perm. Sec.

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) remains commitment to the development of the girl-child, especially in the area of education and social welfare, according to the Permanent Secretary for the FCTA, Olusola Adesola.
Adesola disclosed that each of the public schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has set up a gender unit that focuses on the development of the girl-child and ensures that the girl-child is not left behind in educational development.
He made the pledge at the weekend, during an award, presentation of certificates and cash prizes to winners of an essay competition, organised by an Abuja-based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Sure Girls You Can.
The Permanent Secretary by the Acting Director, Reform Coordination and Service Improvement (RCSI) Department, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, commended the NGO for the initiatives and foresight, adding that the administration would always support such people-oriented programmes for the benefit of the public.
Speaking earlier, the Secretary/director of FCT Secondary Education Board (SEB), Mrs. Nanre Emeje called on genuine NGOs in the FCT to assist the administration in the development of education in the territory.
Emeje noted that the FCT-SEB is very receptive to NGOs who are ready in the area of development in FCT schools, noting that the business of education is a business of all, because government cannot do it alone.
She disclosed that the Board has a record of over 500 NGOs that have one project or the other in FCT schools, adding that the board would continue to accept more NGOs that would come up with laudable projects, to assist in the development of the schools.
Also speaking, the founder of the NGO, Dr Uzo-Udegbunam Chioma, explained that Sure Girls You Can, which is a brain child of Sure Smiles Women & Children Advocacy Initiatives, organised the essay competition during the lockdown to keep the students busy.
Uzo-Udegbunam explained that women have been in the cold for a very long time, maintaining that if the society must achieve gender equality, there is the need to start recognising the girl-child from the cradle.