….as FAME Foundation offers scholarship to 10 Female students In FCT
The wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima has canvassed the support of well meaning Nigerians towards the empowerment of the girl-child in the country.
Speaking during the 6th edition of the annual generation equality football tournament in commemoration of the international women’s day held at the weekend in Abuja, she identified education as a veritable means of empowering the girl -child in the country.
Represented the by Hajia Bilikisu Kyari, the wife of Abubakar Kyari, minister of agriculture and food security, at the competition, she said the tournament is part of activities required to achieve the goal.
She noted: “You have built great networks between different women organisations, market women, NGOs, women in grassroot B communities, as well as partnerships with the British High Commission, US Embassy in Nigeria, The Nigerian Army and so on.l to mention a few.
“You no doubt have built the most robust platform that can serve as the go to point, when women empowerment, and the development of the girl-child is being pursued.
“We must put our heads together, both the public and private sectors, in empowering women, and developing programmes that help build the girl-child, as she steps into the very competitive world where men have been dominating from time immemorial. Their educational capacities must be work upon, and skill acquisition programmes must be worked upon even more.”
At the event graced by members of the diplomatic corps, the FAME Foundation granted full scholarship to 10 female indigent students in the federal capital territory (FCT).
The Executive Director of FAME Foundation, Ms. Aderonke Ogunleye Bello who justified the initiative explained that the tournament is aimed at serving as a unifying factor among Nigerians irrespective of their status in the society..
According to her: “There are brilliant girls with potential, but they are from low- or middle-income homes. We are here to give them full scholarships today. So, today is a day we will do everything together to support women, embrace inclusion, Empowering Young girl in the county.
“Why we are doing this is to bring women together. We are going to have side talks on how to empower women as well. At the same time, there are some girls that will be given scholarships as well. Ten girls have been selected from across the FCT.
“Whenever sports, especially football, the most popular game in Nigeria is being played, you know how it is. Nobody cares about where you are from, nobody cares about the language you speak, we all just embrace ourselves and we are happy with one another.
“This is why FAME Foundation is intentional about using sports that unifies Nigeria to bring people together to chat a way forward to see how together we can support women.
“Every year, we do this. And while this is going on, we have hepatitis test, HIV test, scanning women for cervical cancer and also giving out free female condoms to women and showing them how to use it to prevent STDs.”
