Women and children are among those that are vulnerable to abuse in the society and hence, they must always be protected. This was the piece of advice given by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kolawole Salako during a meeting he had with top-ranking officers of the Nigerian Girl Guides Association, Ogun State Branch. The Vice-Chancellor, who noted the natural affection of mothers for their children, emphasised that women should be more passionate about their children’s upbringing. According to him, “It’s very important to monitor the children, to guard against waywardness, as mothers have a big role to play in that aspect”. The Vice-Chancellor regretted that vices such as rape and incest were prevalent in society, as girls and young women were always susceptible to attacks.
He, therefore, encouraged the association to intensify efforts at educating girls and adult females on their rights and how to seek help to prevent abuse and seek redress when necessary. He advised that domestic violence among couples should be discouraged through proper education by organisations like the Nigerian Girl Guides. Prof. Salako further enjoined members of the association to interface with the University’s Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre (AMREC) and the Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies (CENTS), for adequate sensitisation as well as getting information about upcoming trainings and seminars that would assist members in the discharge of their functions, while pledging FUNAAB’s support to them.
The Deputy Chief Commissioner for B-Zone, Deaconess Rhoda Thomas, disclosed that the World Association of Nigerian Girl Guides and Girls Scouts (WAGGGS), was established in 1920 and is saddled with the responsibilities of training young women to be self-reliant and trustworthy. She said that there are many opportunities for the girl-child in the association, as efforts were in top gear to sustain membership from the primary to tertiary education levels and beyond. The Project Manager, United Parcel Service (UPS), representing WAGGGS, Miss Motunrayo Akinsete said that there were more than 10 million members of the association worldwide and that Nigerian girls had been guiding in the nation for the past 100 years.
She highlighted some of the activities of the association to include developing leadership capacity to promote gender equity, empowerment, building of self-confidence in the girl-child, enlightenment on menstrual hygiene, violence against women and safety. Present at the event were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Bolanle Akeredolu-Ale; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Prof. Clement Adeofun; Registrar, Dr. ‘Bola Adekola; Deputy Registrar II, Vice-Chancellor’s Office, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Dawodu; as well as the association’s matrons, Dr. Petra Abdusalam-Saghir and Rev. (Mrs.) Elizabeth Adeyemo of FUNAAB. Others were the Odeda District Commissioner and UPS Project Commissioner, Mrs. Abimbola Ayanwale; and UPS Zonal Coordinator for B-Zone, Miss Blessing Olu-Ayorinde, among others.
Last Updated on October 20, 2020 by FUNAAB
