Int’l Day of the Girl Child..Mrs Otti assures of maximum protection of the girl child

Ify Ash
Umuahia

The first lady of Abia state, Mrs Precilia Otti has assured every girl in the state that she was going to protect them against any man nursing the intention of molesting them sexually while urging any molested girl to speak out assuring that she will personally take up the matter till justice is done.

The first lady revealed this last Friday at JAAC building, by the State Secretariat, Umuahia, during the 2024 International Day of the Girl child, with the theme, “Girls Vision for the Future”. She maintained that she is passionate about the girl child while adding that every girl child in the state is her daughter and is in her place to protect them.

Mrs Otti stated that as long as she remains the first lady of Abia state, such men will have no hiding place, adding that they will be pursued until caught and made to face the wrath of the law.

In her words, “every girl in the state is my child, I will do everything to protect you against men who defiles or rape little girls, all we want you to do for us is to speak out when such happens.

“I am warning men who abuse girls, you will have me to contend with, there will be no hiding place for you in this state, we will pursue and hunt you down until justice prevails”. Mrs Otti said.

She revealed that today is a day of reflection on the challenges facing the girl child reiterated that despite the challenges, she admires the potentials of Abia girls who have been doing well in all round.

She regretted that there are times when parents drive their daughters into early marriage or into prostitution in order to make money for the family. She said such will not be tolerated in Abia state.

Mrs Otti revealed that all these are in line with the vision of governor Alex Otti in ensuring the protection of the girl child.

“There have been significant giant strides in the state among is eradication of baby factory and the recent one is the raiding of baby factory in Isiala Ngwa North LGA, and the main perpetrator of the crime caught and in police net, there is no room for baby factory any more in our dear state.

“We are committed to ensuring that our girl child is either educated or have a trade and is the reason the governor ensured of free and compulsory education from primary school, also my office ensures that Young girls are train them empowered.

“I am pleased to announce that a renowned Nigeria fashion brand will be training 1000 girls in fashion including the popular Akwate cloth making. This is a demonstration of our commitment to ensuring our girls are doing well”. The first lady said.

She also appeal to parents to watch the activities of their girl child in this era of social media and the kind of site they log into to avoid cyber bullying and violence while she encouraged the girls to report anyone who took undue advantage of them as she called on stakeholders to join in the fight and protection of the girl child.

In her address, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr Maureen Ijeoma Aghukwa, said the day is devoted to raising awareness about the significant of the girl child globally and recognizes the invaluable contributions that girls makes in the society.

She noted that a girl is any female between the ages of 0-19 years and a crucial stage of human development marked by various social and cultural barriers and peers influence which can deprived them of education, subject them to early marriage and expose them to abuse, sexual harassment and exploitation. She noted that this calls for collective support to address these challenges.

The Commissioner regretted that today’s generation of girls faces challenges intensified by global crisis, conflict, gender based violence, abuse while adding that many girls remained deprived of their rights, restricting their choices and limiting their futures.

The Commissioner thanked the first lady, Mrs Otti for her proactive ness in ensuring that the girl child is protected in the state.

In their paper Presentations on the need to protect the girl child, the Director, Centre for Youths and Child Development, in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Prof. Mabel Ifeoma Onwuka and the legal Adviser, Ministry of Women Affairs, Barr Chidinma Alozie first appreciated the Ministry of Women Affairs for their ability to mobilize over twenty schools across the state for the occasion, stating that they have not seen it this way before.

They disclosed that the laws are changing as girls can now inherit their father’s property. They said
Child Rights Law, prohibit betrothal of underage girls, genital mutilation, selling of children, giving out one’s child for house help, especially to unknown persons, etc. They appeal to the governor to provide a home for children that are abused in the state and to totally stop the hawking of children especially during school hours.

One of the girls who spoke, Amarachi Eze said she was fortunate to be among those selected from her school to the event, She said she is happy that the first lady Mrs Precilia Otti has given them the assurance of her readiness to protect them against immoral men who have made life unbearable for many innocent girls in the society by raping them.

Speaking with our reporter after the event, the project coordinator, Sanab Development Foundation, Amb. Dr. Delphine Chioma known for the protection of girls and women said the rising cases of violence against the girl child in our communities should be a source of worry for everybody.

She noted that a day like this is aimed at providing protection and foster an environment where every girl can live free from fear, violence and discrimination. She thanked Mrs Otti and the commissioner for woman Affairs for organizing and bringing the girls together in an auspicious day like this.

The highlight of the occasion was the announcement of various schools who won one competition or the other, presentation of school bags, sanitary pads by staff of Keystone bank to the students, dance by the students and pupils and cutting of cake.