By Mike Adeyemi
An Ilorin-based Non Governmental Organization (NGO), Golden Heart Women Forum has empowered over 35 women across three local government areas of Kwara State while emphasising inclusive education for the girl child in the state.
Speaking with our reporter on Monday, the program officer of Nigeria Project Women’s Voice Leadership (WVL), Adekunle Faith, said the empowerment became imperative so as to alleviate the suffering of women in the society.
She stated this during a weeklong community dialogue meeting with young parents on better parenting and practice by emphasising on inclusive education for the girl child in the state which was held in Amayo, Ifelodun Local Government.
According to her, ‘the task before the organization is to ensure a society where women’s right is protected.’
“Our dream is to record success toward inclusive right for girl child and we want a society where women’s right would be achieved and gender base violence against women will be eradicated.
“Women should be allowed for full participation in politics and political processes. Parts of our advocacy is to bring to an end domestic violence against women, sexual assault, child abuse and genital mutilation,” Adekunle said.
The women’s right activist added that the NGO is in collaboration with security agencies in the state so as to bring into book violators of women’s right.
“We are in full synergy with security agencies in the state toward curbing nefarious activity against women in Kwara State. We were at three Kwara communities which include Ojoku in Oyun local government, Oro in Irepodun local government and Amoyo in Ifelodun local government.
“We did empowerment for 35 people in all the community visited. We realized that if women are empowered, domestic violence with be reduced in Nigeria. The importance of educating a girl child was championed and the event was so participatory.
“We also held seminars with students on self esteem alongside a dialogue on better parenting and service. In each of the community visited, we had the support of the traditional rulers, religion leaders and the key stakeholders,” she affirmed.
The week long advocacy was midwived by Golden Heart Woman Forum and was coordinated by Global Hope For Women and Children Foundation (GLOHWOC) in partnership with Action aid and Global Affairs Canada.
