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US Consulate partners ACCN to celebrate girl-child

By Maria Diamond 
13 October 2018   |   3:52 am
The United States Consulate in Lagos in partnership with Africa Creative Children’s Network (ACCN) has celebrated the international girl-child day on Thursday at the US consulate in Victoria Island Lagos to inspire and mentor young secondary school girls to aspire for greatness, shunning all forms of barriers. The young girls were welcomed with video clip…

L-R: CNN Hero Abisoye Ajayi-Akinfolarin, Chidera Muoka; Editor Guardian Life, Colette Otusheso, Mildred Okwo,  Alice Seddon; US Mission Country Coordinator, Oreoluwa Somolu-Lesi and Uche Pedro during the 2018 celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child at the US Consulate Lagos.

The United States Consulate in Lagos in partnership with Africa Creative Children’s Network (ACCN) has celebrated the international girl-child day on Thursday at the US consulate in Victoria Island Lagos to inspire and mentor young secondary school girls to aspire for greatness, shunning all forms of barriers.

The young girls were welcomed with video clip from Chimamanda Adichie’s gender equality presentation from Euston where, she addressed the interference of gender in raising children equally and accordingly, explaining the need for parents to focus on ability instead of gender, while raising their children.

The interactive session kicked off with the US Consulate Cultural Affairs officer Kevin Krapf, welcoming the young girls and mentors to the session.

The US Mission Country Coordinator, Alice Seddon shared her experience as a young girl and how she ended up as a career diplomat, encouraging the young girls gathered to work towards their dreams.

“There is so much a girl-child can do. Don’t ever let anyone address you as a second-class citizen.”

Nigerian women with stories of humble background before attaining success mentored the girls over an interactive panel session moderated by Uche Pedro.

Mildred Okwo a Nollywood filmmaker said: “The girl child is equally as amazing as the male counterparts and as such it is important for them to do what they love and enjoy for fulfilment in life.

“If the girl-child has the knowledge, nobody can put you down. Read a lot to have knowledge of places you can’t afford to go”.

CNN Hero Abisoye Ajayi-Akinfolarin also spoke of the role of mentorship in her life and how her early career as an intern shaped her future. Chidera Muoka, talked about setting goals and pushing hard to succeed, stressing that hard work made her the youngest editor of The Guardian Life Magazine at the age of 25.

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