September 30, (THEWILL) – Over 50 young girls drawn from various schools and communities have brainstormed on the future of the Girl Child in Cross River State.
The young girls, who converged at the Conference Hall of the Cross River State Ministry of Women Affairs, articulated their challenges and expectations from government and society.
The gathering is a pre-summit, aimed at giving the girls a safe space to air their concerns.
The Neighbourhood Care Well Foundation, in partnership with Action Aid Nigeria, is supporting the state ministry of women affairs to carry out the activity.
Victoria Emah-Emah, the executive director, Neighbourhood Care Well Foundation, said the girls are being given opportunity to speak for themselves.
“The essence of this activity is to ensure that girls are given the opportunity to speak for themselves, what they want in the coming year.
“They will also articulate what concerns them and how the government can help, support and also address challenges associated with girls in Nigeria”, she said.
She added that the camp meeting is going to bring out two girls that will represent Cross River State during the State of the Nigerian Girl Summit.
On her part, Gertrude Nanja-Nja, the Special Adviser to the Cross River State governor on Women Affairs, said for information to be brought out from the girl child, we need to create a safe space to listen to them.
Gertrude Nja, who is also an associate Professor and head of Surveying and Geoformatics Department in the University of Calabar, added that information collated from the girls will be forwarded to Abuja to help in policy formulation.
Igwe Favour, one of the participants attributed some of the problems faced by the girl child to mentality.
She said girls grow up in a world where girls are made to feel inferior to boys.
“If there is anything to be addressed, it is mindset and this is made possible through occasions like these”, she said.
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