Wife of Kwara State governor Olufolake Abdulrazaq has described the increasing neglect of adolescent girls in the country as troubling.
She therefore called on parents and guardians in the country to invest in their adolescent girls.
Mrs. Olufolake said that such initiative will engender a more equitable and prosperous future, capable of solving the problems of the world.
The governor’s wife said this in Ilorin, Kwara State capital at a book reading and discussion programme for secondary school students
The programme was sponsored by her pet project, the Ajike Support Centre, in partnership with RED Africa Consulting.
She said that empowered adolescent girls have potential to change the world.The First lady said that more than 75 per cent of the 13.5 million out-of-school children in Nigeria are girls, hinting that an investment in realizing the power of adolescent girls upholds their rights today and promises a more equitable and prosperous future.
Said the career diplomat: “In this regard I call on all critical stakeholders to let us do everything we can to listen to girls and empower them with the individual abilities, social support and the resources they need to survive, thrive and transform their communities. Even in the most difficult of circumstances, let us know that “their voices promote an equal future for us all.
“When effectively supported during the adolescent years, you will agree with me that girls have the potential to change the world, both as the empowered girls of today and as tomorrow’s workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads as well as political leaders”.
She added that it is the right of every girl and indeed every child to have access to quality and affordable education as well as healthcare and other basic necessities for a good life in a peaceful and secure environment.
Mrs. Abdulrazaq hailed the state government for making the development of the girl child and indeed every child the core concern of his administration through the enactment of laws that protects and affords them the enablement required to actualize their dreams.
The wife of the governor said that the programme is aimed at enlightening young girls in the state with knowledge and inspire them to be their very best, adding that, “we will not relent in this drive, we will continue to support initiatives such as this as a catalyst to ensuring that the girl child stands an equal and fair competitive chance at excelling in life.