Former Cross River first lady advocates girl guiding in more schools Mrs Onari Duke, Wife of former Governor of Cross River Donald Duke says there is need for schools across the country to embrace girl guiding to further protect the rights of the girl-child. Duke made the call in her keynote address at […]
Former Cross River first lady advocates girl guiding in more schools
Mrs Onari Duke, Wife of former Governor of Cross River Donald Duke says there is need for schools across the country to embrace girl guiding to further protect the rights of the girl-child.
Duke made the call in her keynote address at the centenary celebration of the Nigerian Girl Guides Association (NGGA) on Tuesday in Lagos.
The theme of the celebration is: ” Years of Inspiring Girls.”
Supreme Magazine reports that the association started in Nigeria on Sept. 16, 1919 and became a full member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) in 1966.
According to Duke, the activities of the girl guides remain a sure way of equipping the girls with the requisite knowledge, morals, skills, confidence and leadership needed to take the country to its desired height.
“The fact is, in today’s world, beyond acquiring formal education, there is the need to stand out because the field is already saturated.
“To distinguish yourself, you need to inculcate a culture of service and excellence in your sphere of influence,’’ she said.
According to her, there is therefore the need for citizens to contribute their quota to national development and growth.
This she noted by inspiring and mentoring the younger generation with sincerity of purpose and to serve genuinely.
“True service will impact lives greatly and to impact excellence in service, we must set high standards and strive to keep them.”
Duke urged girls to always strive to acquire skills that would give them the edge over others, make strong and reliable leaders as well as successful and effective entrepreneurs.
She also emphasized the need for the girl-child to acquire planning skills that would tie their vision to practical steps that their chosen endeavours could take to realise that vision.
“This, in itself is a skill and a very important one because without it, your growth will be stagnated.”
The former cross river first lady further stressed the need for the girls and even young women to be innovative and acquire communication skills, which would be evident in all of their entrepreneurial activities.
This she said was necessary, adding that professional advancement was usually enhanced by innovation.
The Chairperson, Africa Region of the World Association of the Girl Guides Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), Mrs Larissa Cataria, from the Republic of Benin said there was more to be done in the area of advocacy, on the right and welfare of the girl -child in Africa.
“So as a guide, my take will be encouraging associations around the continent to keep sensitising our people in Africa, beginning from Nigeria.
“I believe the girl-child has the power to take up leadership positions, to be the voice of Africa and to be the change agent we all desire in our dear continent.
“These leadership qualities, start from the home, through to the larger society and therefore these girls must also be given the same opportunity as the boys, given that they do have the potential.
“It is not about going to school alone, but also being exposed to the same opportunity as the boys. We need to support them. “They need to be supported in order to perform better in school and outside school.
“The major challenge facing the development of the girl- child in Africa has always been the issues of the mindset and as parents, the issue is, how we see the girl-child matters in determining how far we want them to go.
“Therefore, I think for me, it starts from there.
So, once we change our perception about them, once we understand the importance of sending them to school, I think it will help get the change that we want to see,’’ she said.
The Chief Commissioner of the NGGA, Mrs Maria Sule, in her address of Welcome said that the association had contributed immensely toward nation building,
This she said was through its numerous guiding and mentoring activities of the girl-child in the country through the years and still standing strong.
According to her, the association’s non formal training programmes are thriving, adding that girls in the country are becoming bold advocates of their rights wherever they find themselves.
“We, therefore, wish to call on the Federal Government and State Governments, and the National Assemblies at both the Federal and State levels to assist us in coming up with laws that will liberate the girl-child and women generally to fulfill their potential.
“We also want to appeal to them to assist us in completing our training centre in Abuja designed for the development and well being of the girl-child,’’ Sule said.
Source: NANS
Photo Credit: Google
