Parents have been urged to build strong friendship with their daughters to enable them speak freely about challenges confronting them.
Speaking during the first edition of the empowerment programme, for 105 girls between the ages of 10 and 17 in Ilorin, Kwara State, the organiser of the ‘She, Legacy, Girls Empowerment Summit’, Olayinka Ajani Ajibade, popularly known as Omidan Olayinka, said the summit was designed to educate, empower and enlighten young girls, while equipping them with confidence to make informed decisions, protect themselves and speak up whenever they encounter danger or wrongdoing.
She said the programme seeks to raise a generation of girls who are confident to use their voices, courageous enough to stand up for themselves and others, and prepared to pursue their dreams.
“We want them to know that they can build whatever they set their mind to become. We want them to know that they can speak up when they are in danger and always have a trusted adult they can rely on in times of need,” she said.
Olayinka added that many girls are made to feel inadequate by society, adding that the summit was aimed at helping them recognise their worth and understand that their voices matter.
She explained that although the organisation had previously reached families, mothers and children through a weekly women’s programme on Diamond 88.7 FM, the summit marked its first major physical engagement with girls.
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The organiser said the choice of participants between 10 and 17 years was deliberate, since girls within the age bracket are considered capable of understanding discussions on health, education, personal safety and other issues affecting their development.
She disclosed plans to organise another edition for younger children between the ages of five and nine.
Olayinka called on parents to avoid creating an atmosphere of fear at home, warning that children who see their parents as threats may find it difficult to open up when they are facing problems.
She urged parents to listen more to their daughters and create an environment where they could freely discuss their concerns, just as she said, effective communication between parents and children remain essential to helping young girls navigate the challenges of growing up and make safer and better-informed choice.
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