•International Girl Child Day
The National Defence College Officers Wives Association (NDCOWA) commemorated the International Day of the Girl Child by sensitizing female students of NDC Secondary School in Abuja on the importance of pursuing their dreams.
The event, held today, Friday, October 11, at the NDC premise in Abuja, was aimed to educate and encourage girls to strive for excellence, reports The Nation.
The National Coordinator of NDCOWA and wife of the Commandant of NDC, Mrs. Rhoda Olotu, led the sensitization campaign, emphasizing the need for girls to maintain personal hygiene, use sanitary pads, and stay safe.
She encouraged the students to pursue careers and dreams, citing examples of successful women in various fields.
She said: “Gone are the days when girls were relegated to the kitchen. We have female pilots, military personnel, doctors, engineers, and more, doing exceptionally well. As women, we multitask and carry out our duties with excellence.”
Mrs. Olotu encouraged the students to stay focused by obeying their parents and teachers and working hard in their studies.
Provost of the NDC Centre of Strategic Research and Studies, Prof. Adam Ahmed, commended the association for organising the event.
He said he believed in the ability of the girl child, citing the success of female cadets at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).
In her remarks, Dr. Jumoke Jenyo, of the Defence College’s Department of Conflict, Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Studies, urged the girls to believe in themselves, have a defined vision and be what they want to be.
Mrs. Ozavize Salami as SUBEB Chairman
Jenyo said the girl children could be better than their male counterparts in all endeavors.
She urged them to write their visions in the form of who they want to be, as well as the future and change they want to see.
Jenyo said: “It is not enough that you have a dream, you must work to achieve it.
“As you are growing up, you must prepare yourself because there are challenges but you must see those challenges as your stepping stone.
The National reports that the International Day of the Girl Child was declared by the United Nations and first celebrated on October 11, 2012, to gather more support, opportunity, and increased awareness of gender inequality faced by girl children all over the world.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “Girl’s Vision for the Future highlights the need for urgent action and persistent hope driven by the power of girls’ voices and vision for the future.
