In fulfilling one of its objectives, which is community impartation, the Association of Lady Pharmacists (ALPs) Lagos State Chapter, joined the global community on Tuesday in celebrating the International Day of the Girl Child by empowering the mental and emotional capacities of selected girls from eleven schools in the Kosofe Local Government Area of the state.
The programme, which was packed full with different insightful segments for the mental empowerment of the girls, had in attendance seasoned speakers such as Pharm. (Dr) Margaret Iluomanya; Mrs Nkechi Emmanuel –Layode; Pharm(Mrs) Adeola Alli; Pharm. Candidos Ejembi Ojabo; Dr Afusat Adesina, chairman, Lagos ALPs; Pharm. (Mrs) Foluke Akinniranye, as chairman of the occasion, among others.
Speaking on the theme of the event which is” Our time is now—our rights, our future”, Dr Iluomanya, took the girls on self-discovery path, as she urged them to move from the space of reading to learning, saying anyone can read and forget, but whatever is learnt and internalised becomes part of the person. She also drew their attention to the creative use of social media for positive development, noting her passion for girls to have safe spaces on social media for creating impact.
The multiple-award winning lady pharmacist, also asked the girls some personal questions to aid their self-discovery process, as she noted the importance of harnessing their talents, which must translate into financial realities. “No matter how your priority change in life, you must have your own passion, which must translate into financial realities”, she quipped.
The guest speaker, Emmanuel-Layode, a legacy system builder for women and families spoke on the topic “Seven ways to become the girl for the job”, as she pointed out to the girls that it is never too early to get it right on the path to their glory. She also made them realise why they need to become valuable in the society and become well positioned for leadership positions.
Her 7 points for the girls’ mental development are: “Think, intentionality, purposeful about destination, habits, systems, association and practice”, adding that effective internalizing of these points will made the voice of the girl child in the society valuable and well recognised.
Zeroing in on few of the points, she said” Today’s social media paralyses a female child who is not internal about where she is headed. Be a lover of research and findings in your place of passion. Learn to observe and listen. You can only become what you wish when you create an habit around it”.
Addressing the girls, Dr Adesina, chairman of the association explained the place of the girl child in the home, noting that though the International Day of the Girl Child is being celebrated on 11 October of every year, but every female child deserves to be celebrated everyday of her life, as God has deposited great potentials in her to impart her world. She revealed this was what informed the decision of the association to always commemorate the Day, which marks the 10th anniversary of its establishment this year.
Adesina further disclosed efforts of the group in celebrating the girl child, saying ALPs Lagos State is sponsoring the education of five girls in secondary school, as the national body is sponsoring one girl’s education, making six girls in total enjoying scholarship from ALPs. These efforts, according to her, are geared towards building the capacity of underserve girls, in giving them befitting future, as the common saying goes that ‘when you train a girl, you train a nation’, and when they are informed, they will not be deformed.
In her contribution, chairman of the occasion, Pharm. Akinniranye, expressed her delight to chair the event, which gave them the opportunities to address challenges confronting the female child in terms of education, emotional empowerment and mental capacity building. Being a mother and grandmother who worked outside the country for years, she condemned the paternal culture in Africa which rates the girl child as a none entity and celebrates the male child. She however acknowledged the change in orientation of most parents who have been enlightened by western culture, and have seen why the female child needs to be celebrated also.
While she excused the primitive system that inhibited the promoting of the female child on the basis of ignorance of the potentials in them, she stated that God has invested huge talents in the girl child for the benefit of her generation. She cited the reason for the creation of the first woman, Eve, as a help mate for Adam, saying no woman can play the role of a help mate successfully without being empowered and educated.
Tracing the developmental stages in the life of a girl child, she said “A girl becomes a woman, then a wife, a mother, a grandmother, and great grandmother. Like the mother hen, she becomes a protective canopy over her family, as she actively engages in the grooming of the children in becoming great personalities in life”
She charged the girls never to underestimate themselves as God has deposited in them great talents to benefit their world, adding that they should always speak up on issues that concern their gender, academics and families.
Girls from the following schools participated in the programme “Al-Miyzan College; Gracia Davina High School; The Exalter Minaret school; Chris School; Scholars Garden; Trust Kiddies; Assidiq College; Tolulope Comprehensive High School; Amquor Foundation College; Perfugium College and Harrobs College.
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