Alumni uplift the girl-child for national development

Worried by the increased cases of rape, sexual harassment, and molestation in our society, the Girl Force Movement was recently launched in Lagos to address the myriads of challenges confronting the girl-child in our society.

The movement launched by Queen’s College old girls’ association is aimed at instilling confidence in the mind of the girls and women in our society right from an early age.

President, Mrs. Ufueko Omoigui-Okauru at a briefing to commemorate the International Day of the Girl-child said the movement would collate data on issues affecting the girl-child and document intervening projects by various groups.

“This initiative is a movement that respects, validates, encourages and enables the girl-child to have opportunities to be who they want to be without constraint, scripting or hindrance,” she said.

Already, Omoigui-Okauru said alumni of the 104 unity colleges were already on board and called on other old students’ groups, foundations, corporate bodies, and non-profit organisations to rise and champion projects that would improve the participation of women in all spheres of human endeavour in the society.

She said: “Our goal is to use this movement to build a pipeline of women leaders that will drive the political, economic and social landscape in the communities of their choice, with self-confidence and pride in whatever they choose to do. In driving the landscape, women will be “at the table” equitably making decisions that drive improved quality of life for all of us.

“This platform will be a catalyst for change and will provide annual feedback on progress made, using data garnered as an instrument of advocacy. We will also share stories of persons working to uplift the girl-child in a variety of areas, including but not limited to leadership development, self-defense, improvements in quality and robustness of Education and advocacy, timely speak up ability, hotline access and mentoring.”

“This is not just a call for women but also a call for a better society that recognizes the contribution and diversity of every part of its population to take decisions that impact millions of people. The society we live in often discourages women from standing up to their right and voicing out issues affecting them. The girl-child should not be made to stay at home while her brothers go to school. The girl-child should learn to speak up and voice right from an early age.”