Governor's Wife Calls For Empowerment Of Girl Child

By Hannah ARIKPO

The Wife of the Cross River State Governor, Rev. Mrs Eyoanwan Bassey Otu has joined her counterparts the world over to celebrate the 2023 International day of the Girl Child with a clarion call on stakeholders and policymakers to prioritize the empowerment of the Girl Child with knowledge about their bodies, rights and choices.

The Governor's Wife was represented at the event with the theme: "Invest in Girls' Rights: our leadership, our wellbeing" by the SSA admin. Dr. Mrs Comfort Oko.

According to her such knowledge would enable the Girl Child to lead a safe, healthy and fulfilled life.

She acknowledged the importance of investing in the girls child and likened it to investing in the very core of collective prosperity and progress of the nation.

" Our girls possess incredible potentials, intelligence and resilience and it is our duty to create an enabling environment that nurtures their growth and empowers them to become the leaders who will shape our future", Rev. Eyoanwan explained.

She observed that leadership starts with opportunities and expressed the state government's determination to provide equal opportunities to every girl child in Cross River State while advocating for a culture of inclusivity, respect and support for the girl child.

"We believe that leadership knows no gender and every girl deserves the chance to lead, to excell and contribute meaningfully to the society. We are committed to breaking down barriers that hinder the progress whether it be access to education, healthcare or equal opportunities for economic growth", the Governor's Wife emphasized.

Speaking onbehalf of members of the state executive council, the Commissioner for Social Welfare and Community Development, Bishop Ene Ita acknowledged that the state government has taken giant strides to place the Girl Child in a befitting position to enable her achieve all she deserves for a better future.

"The present administration in the state has great plans for the girl child to acquire her desired ambition in life, the future of the girl child is bright", She assured.

In a welcome address, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon Edema Irom called for a united and collective front which will ensure adequate provision for the needs of the girl child to win anywhere in the world and warned perpetrators of gender based violence to desist from such wicked acts.

"There are many who have chosen the path of abuse, perpetrating all forms of gender based violence and engaging in the mechandize of selling our girls for profit; to such perpetrators I would like to say your game is up and not again will you find any hiding place",She warned.

Also read: Cross River lawmaker celebrates girl child with donation of sanitary pads

Also speaking, the Wife of the Speaker, Cross River House of Assembly, Mrs Nelly Ayambem said that the potentials embedded in the Girl Child demands adequate protection from harm and abuse by family, society and frowned at the preference of the boy child to the girl child in the aspect of education noting that "The education of the girl child is an assurance of a hopeful future for generations yet unborn", 

The Speaker, Cross River State Children Parliament Mr Osika Kaghini - Nse Etim and the Project Officer of the Neighbourhood foundation, Calabar, Miss Victoria Eyo in their separate addresses noted the importance of empowering the girl child stating that "Every Girl Child is a vessel of potentials but lacks the opportunities to express themselves".

Children from participating schools undertook a walk from the Women development center, Parliamentary village Calabar to Effioette round about and back ,to mark the day.