Is Education of Girl-Child Important to Societal Growth, Dev.?

Every child is important to the growth and  development of any given society. The fact that, the days of old, girl -child's education was  ignored with the beliefs that they are less important in function to the society, has become the issue of the past. Yes, it became and becomes the issue of the past because the roles women, who were  once girls, now play in the society. 

While it is no time for history, one will  not forget the likes of  Ngozi  Okonjo Iweala, Nigerian Economist who has been serving as the Director- General of World- Trade Organization  since March, 2021 and she is the first woman and  African to head the enviable institution, Late Dora Akuyili,  former  Director- General of the National Agency for Food and Drug  Administration Control(NAFDAC)  who fought doggedly against fake drugs and foods  in Nigeria, Professor Grace  Alele- Williams, the first Nigerian Professor of Mathematics education who made history as the  first Nigerian woman to receive a  Doctorate Degree  and first Nigerian female Vice Chancellor at the University of Benin, Edo State.

  These women who  are Nigerians,  among others, have made history in their spheres of life.  This is possible through their education. The slogan that says "women's education ends in the kitchen" died many years ago.

Today, the education of girl -child has now taken centre stage  in the scheme of things. Women, especially the educated ones  are found  nearly in all  professions namely: Law, Engineering, Politics, Journalism, among others  Perhaps, due  to this earlier neglect, women now demand gender equality. 

It was based on the need to make young people especially  girl-child  to be  more relevant in the societal  growth and development, the wife of the Olu of Warri, Her Majesty Olori Ogiame Atuwatse III  set up Royal Iwere Foundation. This foundation, no doubt, has been pillars  for  not only  girl- child's  advancement but the entire young people in the society. In  order to invigorate the foundation,this week, Monday, 17th February, 2025, the  foundation  partnered  with Junior Achievement Africa and Nigeria  to train young people especially girls on entrepreneurial skills. The programme of the Junior Achievement Africa and Nigeria which is titled:" Set4LYf" that place at the Palace of Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, saw the selection of students from seven secondary schools in Warri South Local Government Area. They are : Dore Numa  College, Dore- Dom-Domingos  College, Hussey College, Uwangue College, Delta Model College, Nana Model College and Yonwuren College- all in Warri. The students were  accompanied by their principals. 

In her speech, the wife of Olu of Warri, Her Royal Majesty, Olori Ogiame Atuwatse III said, no child especially girls can be deprived of better living in life if  such child charts   a better course  for herself. According to her,  the sole reason of Royal Iwere Foundation  to   partner  with Junior Achievement Africa -  Set4LYf  and Nigeria  is to  train young  people especially girls on  entrepreneurial skills for workforce readiness and economic development, adding that, if somebody is set for life, it means, the person has been embolden with what would give the person success in life.

She said:" You  can become the better person you want to be in the society if you make the right decisions. This is  irrespective of your  parental backgrounds. I can not live  a good life because my father  is trader, is carpenter, , fisherman, this or that, should not be"

She said  through the programme, the girls are trained to change the economy and transform their communities adding   that, the programme  is made accessible to the girls irrespective of their  backgrounds.

According to her, after  the training, the girls can become the Chief Executive Officers  of establishment who can impact positively in their various  communities,  uplift and transform the needy in the society and therefore,   the girls should take   the programme seriously to make a better future for themselves, their families and the society at large.

Royal Majesty Olori did not fail to express gratitude to the  Chief Executive Officer/ President, Junior Achievement  Africa, Mrs Simi Nwogugu and Executive Director, Junior Achievement Nigeria, Ugonna Achebe for partnering and launching the programme in Warri, apart from Abuja, the FCT and Kogi State, the  Principals of the various  secondary  schools who  were  able to make their students available  for the programme. She assured duo of Mrs Nwogugu and Achebe of her support  to make the programme successful in the kingdom. She also expressed gratitude to Honourable Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Girl Child Development, Orode Uduaghan and Special  Assistant to the Governor of Delta State on Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs), Lady Diana Ereyitomi Eyo-Enoette for their admonition  for the students and creating time to attend the programme.

The duo of  the  Chief Executive Officer/ President,  Junior Achievement  Africa, Mrs Simi Nwogugu and Executive Director, Junior Achievement Nigeria, Ugonna Achebe challenged  the students to take the programme seriously as it  would make them to be entrepreneurs and  assured  them of giving them quality training to better their life. They did not fail to thank the Her Royal Majesty Olori Ogiame Atuwatse for giving  their organizations  the opportunity to work with her foundation to advannce the course of humanity.

As earmarked, the entrepreneurial  skills programme  for the students  is billed to take six months, this would be possible through the volunteered   teachers and adhoc  staff that are  to work with organization. It is  was of this assistance of the various teachers in this regard, they have been trained by the organization. 

 According to the Chief Operations Officer, Royal Iwere Foundation- Humanitarian of Arm of Kingdom Monarchy, Ogechukwu Abiago Ezeobiorah, the training of the teachers of the various schools  becomes necessary considering the number of students in different schools in the three local government areas:  Warri South, Warri North and South-West. 

According  to her, the foundations  have plug into the existing educational system to ensure the training is effective. By and large, it is clear that after the training,  the young ones today who become leaders of tomorrow,  would have been empowered  to contribute their quota  to the growth and development of their various communities, local government areas, Delta State in particular  and Nigeria at large.