The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, has called for enhanced welfare for girls, emphasizing their role as future leaders of the country.
Mr. Egbedun made this appeal on Monday during the ‘First Nigeria Girls Parliamentary Day’ held at the assembly. The event was organized in partnership with the Value Female Network Africa, a non-governmental organization focused on the welfare of girls and women.
In his address, Egbedun welcomed participants to the landmark event, stating, “I am honoured to welcome you to the first special Nigeria Girls Parliamentary Day, organised by Value Female Network in collaboration with Osun assembly. Today we have the opportunity to come together and amplify our voices to advocate change and inspire one another to make a difference. I believe that by working together, we can overcome the challenges limiting you, including limited access to education, gender-based violence and menstrual health.
“The future of our country rests in the hands of our young people and the young girls here today that have the potential to become leaders of tomorrow.”
Egbedun urged the participants to utilize the knowledge gained from the parliamentary discussions to drive change in their communities. He remarked, “You are the catalyst of change and I believe in your ability to make a difference.”
Coordinator of Value Female Network Africa, Dr. Costly Aderibigbe, also spoke at the event, explaining that the program aimed to advance the rights of girls in Nigeria. She highlighted the significance of empowering the girl-child, describing them as invaluable to society.
“When we train a girl-child, we train a society because they will give birth and that is why we need to train our girls for a better future,” she stated.
Ngozi Adeleke, the wife of the state governor, delivered remarks through her representative, Olushola Omotunde. She encouraged the young girls to develop courage and discipline, urging them to embrace resilience and hard work for a brighter future.
Several girls at the event shared their experiences, pointing out issues such as menstrual hygiene, gender-based violence, and discrimination faced by people with disabilities. They appealed for better welfare and treatment for young girls across the country.
