Lorine Emenike
As part of activities to mark this year’s International Day of the Girl Child, an event celebrated globally in the month of October, the Center for Conflict and Gender Studies, University of Port Harcourt, has engaged young girls, gender based organizations, friends and female staff of the institution in a peaceful walk within the university premises to sensitize the public on the importance of girl child in the society.
The event had in attendance the wife of the Vice Chancellor of the university, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Prof. Regina Enyidia Ogali, the state public relation officers of FIDA among others.
The director, Center for Conflict and Gender studies, Mrs. Heoma Nsirim-Worlu, said that the international day of the girl child is a global event that is celebrated annually to examine issues and challenges facing the girl child all around the world, and to proffer solutions to them.
Dr. Worlu said this year’s theme for the celebration of the girl child’s day is ” Girlforce, Unscripted, Unstoppable and Empowered for a Brighter Future ”
Continuing, Dr. Worlu said that the girl child is faced with challenges like early marriage, cultural harmful practices, gender-based violence, sex for grades, etc”
She stressed that majority of females especially the girl child is unscripted in her home, but they are unstoppable in their quest to fulfill life’s purposes.
She urged citizens of the world to actively set agendas that will solve the challenges girls face daily in life.
She added that citizens of the world should encourage and develop girls who are active, critical in thinking, responsible and girls who are not easily intimidated and abused.
On her part, Dr. Ihuoma Durueke, a senior lecturer at the center for Conflict and gender studies, advised girls not to prioritize marriage but career fulfilment.
She said “Marriage should not be a priority, of cause a lady can get married for companionship and to also have children. But a girl child should set a career path. The girl child should aspire to be a global leader, especially the chosen field in career/ businesses. Whereever she finds herself, she should aspire to be a leader, they may not get to the very top but aspire to be something big”
She encouraged societies to support women who are doing well in their chosen fields whether single or married and never to disregard any girl or woman who is doing great or condemn her because she is not married.
She also called on parents to give their girl child maximum support that will aid them to achieve great dreams and visions in life.
Joan Nkem Dike, the executive director of Social Economic Empowerment and Development Network, who was also a student of Center for Conflict and Gender Studies, applauded the director of the Center for Conflict and Gender studies and their entire staff, students and friends for organizing the event to commemorate the girl child month.
She also commended the united nations for their choice of this year’s theme ” GIRLFORCE, UNSCRIPTED, UNSTOPPABLE AND EMPOWERED FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE”.
Mrs. Dike said the annual celebration of the girl child will help change the narratives, the age long perception of the girl child globally, how the the society have seen women.
She said “The patriarchy world that we live in, it’s been challenging for the average girl no matter how gifted or intelligent she is to actually excel.
Patriarchy has shut down so many chances, opportunity for the girl child to actually contribute to the development of the nation”.
Jennifer Okemini Aleruchi, a student of Success Comprehensive High School, Ozuoba thanked the organizers of the program and promised to transfer the knowledge she got from the program by educating other students who couldn’t attend the event.
