Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Uche Okafor has reassured the public of the State legislature’s commitment to always make laws and resolutions aimed at eliminating all forms of discrimination against the female Children in the State.
He called on parents to ensure that they harnessed the potentials of their girl child to enable them become what they desire to be in life.
The Speaker made the disclosure in his goodwill message to mark year 2020 International Day of the Girl Child Right made available to Newsmen in Awka on Sunday
He said the theme for the year, “ My Voice , Our equal Future” was apt and encouraged every girl child in the state not to loss focus and be confident in themselves and work hard to achieve their life goals.
He enjoined parents to see the future of their female Children as a priority in view of their potential as future Mothers.
Okafor warned against the use of the girl child for hawking during school hours and other negative cultural practices, which he said affects the moral and academic disposition of the girls.
He called on both government and parents to create an enabling environment for the female Children to occupy their rightful positions in the society.
Okafor commended the Wife of Anambra Governor Dr. Ebelechukwu Obiano for improving the economic and social status of Girls child in the State by exposing them to quality education and skills.
He urged mothers and other citizens to emulate the foot print of Obiano to join hands in creating a better future for the female Children in the state.
Okafor urged all community leaders as well as other social agents to map out severe punishments for those who maltreat or endanger the happiness, security and safety of the female Children in the State.
Meanwhile, a PDP chieftain, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo called on government at levels to take seriously the welfare of the Girl child as they are the power engine of development.
Ezeemo said that girl child all over the world are demanding a life free from gender-based violence, access to health, skills, recognition and investment as leaders of social change.
“We need to make laws and implement in full not in bits to reassure our girl child how much we truly care about giving them a voice in political space, in electives positions, in academic world amongst other facts of life, no limits,” he said .
Ezeemo said that the International Day of the Girl child celebrates the importance, power, and potential of girls around the world and every girl child in the state should be made to feel what other feel in western world.
He said that the day should be used as well to highpoint girl child needs and the need to drive efforts that meet these needs and fulfill their rights as a matter of importance.
Ezeemo said that though much progress has been made to ensure that every girl child was able to grow and develop in good health but much remain to be done such as stop marriage before 18 year of age , constant rape of a girl child amongst others.
International Day of the Girl Child, is been celebrated annually on 11 October was a way to strengthen the voices and rights of girl child all over the world.
