Lagos Assembly urges Sanwo-Olu to intensify awareness on girl child education
Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intensify awareness on girl child education and sustainable future.
The House also called on the governor to create more awareness against early marriage for a girl child.
These resolutions were made after a motion moved by Hon. Mojisolaoluwa Alli-Macaulay (Amuwo-Odofin 1) during plenary session on Tuesday in celebration of International Day for the girl child.
Alli-Macaulay, who chairs the House Committee on Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, noted that the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) had set aside October 11, every year to celebrate the girl child and recognise her rights and the unique challenges she faces around the world.
She added that the 2022 theme ‘Our Time is Now – Our Rights, Our Future’ was aimed at girls across the world who are demanding recognition of their power, inclusiveness and sustainable pathways to political participation.
Alli-Macaulay argued that “girls all over the world have shown interest in politics, education, poverty-related issues, environment, climate change amongst others.”
She noted the enactment of the Child Right Law and the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law by the House of Assembly as part of its efforts to keep the girl child protected.
Contributing to the debate, Hon. AbdulSobur Olawale said that the society should change its belief about the girl child, saying that the girl child should be given equal opportunities like the male gender in the society.
Olawale said that the girl child would excel in all ramifications if given opportunities like the male gender.
The lawmakers who contributed to the debate were Hon. Lukmon Olumoh (Ajeromi-Ifelodun 1), Hon. Wale Rauf (Amuwo-Odofin 2), Hon. Femi Saheed (Kosofe 2), Hon. Setonji David ( Badagry 2) and the Majority Leader, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade.
They appreciated the various non-governmental organisations championing the cause of the girl child, carrying out advocacy and ensuring their protection.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House, Rt (Hon) Mudashiru Obasa, who presided over the plenary commended Alli-Macaulay, noting that “The International Day for the Girl Child is an opportunity to bring to the fore the challenges facing the girl child such as violation of babies by men, abuse of drugs, and cultism.
“It is also an opportunity to scrutunise the performance of government agencies saddled with the responsibility of protecting the girl child,” the Speaker said.
Obasa commended Sanwo-Olu for his efforts at ensuring that the girl child in Lagos has equal opportunities as the male gender.
