Southern Governors’ Wives Forum Advocates Eradication of Harmful Practices Against Girl Child
Wives of governors across Southern Nigeria yesterday converged on Osogbo, the Osun State capital for the 7th meeting of the Southern Governors’ Wives Forum (SGWF).
The governors wives unanimously condemned harmful traditional practices that are inimical to girl child and advocated proper parental upbringing of children.
In attendance were: Mrs Dame Edith Okowa; Delta State, Mrs Bolanle Ambode; Lagos State, Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi; Enugu State, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu; Abia State, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel, Akwa Ibom State, Mrs. Bene Obaseki; Edo State, Mrs. Feyisetan Fayose; Ekiti State, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun; Ogun State, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi; Oyo State and their host, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola
In her opening remark, Alhaja Aregbesola maintained that intensified efforts in the directions of proper upbringing of children and war against harmful traditional practices would help millions of children and particularly girls to have proper growth and become great mothers.
Mrs. Sherifat declared: “In addition to our empowerment programs, quite a number of issues may demand more of our attention as the years go by. One of these is the need for us to step up the tempo of sensitization in our states for proper parental upbringing of children.”
“I am of the opinion that this will stem the challenge of public misbehavior which often leads to insecurity. My darling sisters, I would like our forum to also consider intensifying our advocacy on the eradication of harmful traditional practices and dangers that threaten our girls.”
“These range from issues of unsafe abortion, female genital mutilation, drug abuse, rape, sexual harassment in schools and child marriages. Our intensified efforts in these directions will help millions of girls to have proper growth and become great mothers. We should also not relent in our prayers for the re-enthronement of peace in our nation.”
At the event where scores of women were empowered with grinding machines, sewing machines, hairdressing equipment, cassava processing machines, among others, the governors’ wives charged women to acquire skills, strive towards economic sustainability.
In their separate speeches, Mrs Dame Edith Okowa; Mrs Bolanle Ambode; and Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi, admonished women on healthy sexual life, economic reliance and their roles as wives.
