Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday harped on the need for adequate and quality education for the girl child in Nigeria.
The House emphasized this when the lawmaker representing Amuwo-Odofin 2, Hon. Mojisola Macaulay, under personal explanation, informed her colleagues during plenary of the International Day For The Girl Child.
Macaulay said there should be a deliberate policy to enable active participation of the girl child in governance when she becomes a woman.
She said: “The day is set aside for the celebration of the girl child’s rights. Every year, the girl child is encouraged and asked for opportunities to grow so as to maximise her potentials.
“This mitigates against gender-based violence, early marriage, discrimination, access to quality health services and violence which the girl child is facing around the world”.
In his contribution, Hon. David Setonji (Badagry 2), described women as special beings in the society and that there is need to support them in their various endeavors.
Setonji explained that encouraging a girl child in acquiring adequate education would have positive effect on the society.
Hon. Victor Akande (Ojo 1), advised parents not to be discriminatory in investing in their children, adding that investment in a girl child should not be seen as a loss.
Hon. Richard Kasunmu (Ikeja 2), in his comments, said that the girl child should be encouraged to embrace digital education as the world has changed beyond traditional way of learning.
The Majority Leader, Hon Sanai Agunbiade, lamented on the high rate of single parents in Nigeria, saying that this usually have negative effects on the growing up of a girl child.
Agunbiade explained that the family system has broken down due to the neglect of the role of the father in a girl child, saying there is need to ensure a girl-child realises her full potentials.
Hon. Abiodun Tobun (Epe 1), said it is easy to train a girl child if monitored well than the male counterpart, adding that the girl child remains a blessing to her parents.
Tobun, however, canvassed for the celebration of the boy child despite all odds, saying that a lot of responsibilities are on the boy child when he grows up as a man.
Deputy Speaker, Hon. Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, who presided over the plenary, eulogised the womenfolk, saying that their contributions to societal development cannot be over emphasised.
Eshinlokun-Sanni said women have excelled in their various chosen careers spanning law, businesses, politics and public governance, banking and corporate governance.
“For recording successes in various fields of their endeavors, we need to celebrate the girl children who are not women and mothers,” he said.
