Empowering the girl child for future challenges

All for one, One for all

Empowering the girl child for future challenges and leadership positions in the society cannot be overemphasised. As campaign for the girl child education is increasing by the day, experts are of the opinion that empowerment of the girl child is something that must not be toyed with.

In championing the cause of the girl child, the South African High Commission in Nigeria established a programme tagged “Take a Girl Student to Work.” The initiative which is being done annually was to expose final year female students in the universities to work environment. The High Commission partners interested public and private organisations willing to absorb the students for the programme.

Partnering on the project, MultiChoice Nigeria has absorbed 20 students from various departments from the University of Lagos in this year’s edition of the programme.

According to the organisation’s Head, Public Relations, Segun Fayose, the exercise was basically about empowering the female child. “It started in 2009 when South Africa celebrated women’s day and every August 9 is declared a public holiday in the country to celebrate women. South African women contributed to the struggle for their liberation. In Nigeria, they made initiative to empower the female child which is a weeklong programme to get expose to work environment. It always involves the final year students where they spend the whole day to have exposure in different units, have practical with us as well as with our contact centres”, he remarked.

Ms.Thandi Mgxwati, Political Counsellor, South African High Commission; explained that the project is an annual social corporate investment event and a constructive way of positively contributing to the global efforts to address challenges faced by young women, particularly African women and “the girl child.”

“The Take a Girl Student to Work project is conceived as a day when young female students from institutions of learning from the Federal Republic of Nigeria are exposed to the reality of the workplace. The same theme is adopted for this year’s Women’s Day anniversary celebration in Lagos.

One of the participating students from UNILAG, Vanessa Mbamala, who is studying Cell Biology and Genetics described the initiative as very exposing, “I’m excited to be part of the programme. It has opened me up to know that women can attain leadership position in their field unlike when women were always sidelined and relegated to the kitchen. This programme is an eye-opener.”

Adamu Mary Ehi of the same department said, “The concept was to bring us to work environment to help us know what to face ahead. It has helped me to know that there’s a world out there outside school and that it’s possible to be a career woman and combine everything successfully.  As a science-based student, it has helped to broaden my views on other disciplines, to know that my course is not a barrier and to also know that we shouldn’t be closed minded but open to other opportunities.”

On her part, Omolola Omotokun, a final year Mass Communication student said the programme has assisted her to improve her drive to achieve in life. “This initiative is awesome. We were told about some things we already knew and it has helped us to improve our personal skills and drive to achieve in life.

Through this programme we have been taught to convince ourselves that our idea will work even when others are trying to discourage us that it won’t. I also learnt that when one fails, one should not stay in the shadow but pick herself up. I won’t leave this place the same person. From what I’ve learnt, I will build on my skills and share the knowledge learnt with others that didn’t have the opportunity to attend.”

Source: http://independentnig.com/2013/08/empowering-the-girl-child-for-future-challenges/