The Kwara State government has said that without adequate education and awareness for female children, their liberation from societal exploitation will remain a distant and unachievable goal.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Olanrewaju Bake, speaking yesterday at a conference jointly organised by Chidemma and Havilah Foundation and the Seed of Praise Centre for Youth, Women, and Children Development Initiative, to commemorate this year’s International Day of Girls’ Child at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) press centre, identified several forms of exploitation against girls, including poverty, gender discrimination, societal and religious limitations, and rape, among others.

Represented by a director in the ministry, Victoria Funmilayo, Bake explained that girls globally face various challenges.

She said: “These challenges range from poverty, illiteracy, gender discrimination, religious limitations, economic factors, and sexual violence, among others.

“Poverty is one of the most significant barriers facing the girl child. This leads some families to keep their daughters at home for hawking and other domestic chores. In Nigeria, certain social and gender norms place low value on girls’ education and promote boy-child preference,” she stated, adding that some cultural practices also endanger the girl child.

According to her, adolescent girls in some regions are forced to drop out of school and marry early.

“The incidence of constant sexual harassment and rape are major challenges facing the girl child,” she noted.

To mitigate these challenges, she advocated for increased awareness of gender inequalities and stressed the importance of addressing these barriers. Additionally, she recommended empowering girls with the necessary tools.

She said: “The girl child must be empowered with social, economic, political, educational, and psychological tools.”

Also represented by a Director, Ayanlola Omolola, the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Sahadat Modibo Kawu, urged students from across the state to strive to make meaningful lives for themselves.

Kawu called on education stakeholders to envision a future in which girls are valued, educated, and given leadership opportunities.

She said: “We must all work together to create a world in which girls can thrive and make positive contributions to society.”

She further urged lecturers at the event to address challenges such as gender-based violence, limited access to education, economic inequality, and social expectations that affect girls.

“These challenges are critical issues that must be highlighted during our celebrations to plan effectively for the future. On this note, all relevant government and non-governmental organisations must be prepared to support girls’ educational initiatives, mentor them, advocate for policy changes, and challenge harmful stereotypes,” she urged.

In his keynote address titled “Promoting Adolescent Girls’ Formal Education Enrolment through Media Engagement and Visibility,” the Secretary of the Kwara NUJ Council, Mahmood Alaya, said that being a girl should not limit what a girl child can achieve, where she can go, or who she can become.

“Sadly, for millions of girls around the world, this is not yet a reality,” he lamented.

However, Alaya acknowledged the resilience of girls, saying: “Girls are not only resilient in the face of adversity but remain hopeful for a brighter future.”