Goodwill Message from the Office of Mrs. Toyin Saraki in Celebration of the International Day of the Girl

Date: 2012-10-11

Protecting the rights of young girls has always been a strong area of advocacy for myself and my foundation - the Wellbeing Foundation Africa;and as the world celebrates the first ever United Nations International Day of the Girl, we ask you to join us in taking a stance against gender bias and advocating for girls’ rights across the African continent. By recognizing and promoting the rights of girl children, we are collectively advancing the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals pertaining to gender equality, human rights, women and children's health, empowernent, the environment and universal access to education.

As Founder-President of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, it is important to emphasize the critical role that education, eliminating gender-based violence, and ending early child marriage plays in empowering girls to reach their full potential not only on the International Day of the Girl, but every day. In addition to the foundation’s advocacy efforts fuelled by the WBFA 24-7-365 Advocacy and Action social media campaign, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa Alaafia Kwara Initiative —a division of the foundation dedicated to implementing region-specific grassroots initiatives to advance the health and wellbeing of women and children, and all our Kwara networks, have played a key role in promoting the rights of the girl child through sustained efforts to ensure the completion of basic education of girls in Kwara State.

Not surprisingly, girls in Kwara State were the oldest in the country to have their first sexual experience, with a median age of 19 as opposed to the country’s average of 15 years (Uthman 2008) due to factors including our unrelenting push for the retention of girl children in education. It is pleasing to note that Kwara continues to set the benchmark in supporting girls’ rights in Nigeria, and I applaud the efforts of Kwara First Lady, Her Excellency Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed, for not only continuing the programs initiated during the my tenure, but also for her new initiatives to enrich the lives and wellbeing of women and girls in the state.

On a global level, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa advocates against gender bias by supporting Peace One Day’s Global Truce 2012 ‘Reducing Domestic Violence’ Campaign and promoting the end of early child marriage. Research has indicated that child brides are more likely to be beaten or threatened by their spouses; and given that an astonishing 50 percent of sexual assaults are committed against girls under 16, it is paramountfor us to speak out against gender-based violence while giving victims a platform to seek support and regain empowerment. In this regard, I must also celebrate two key global initiatives and organisations, the Stop The Violence Campaign of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, empowering 10 million girls and young women around the world, and the unique platform of the White Ribbon Alliance Global, which has raised the voices of countless Champions around the world, myself included, as we strive to better the lives of humanity in our villages, towns, communities and countries.

As we commemorate the International Day of the Girl today, let us remember to celebrate, educate and encourage our girls as they grow into health-seeking, empowered women.

Signed:

Mrs. Toyin Ojora-Saraki
Founder-President
The Wellbeing Foundation Africa

United Nations Every Woman Every Child Effort Nigeria
Chair, The White Ribbon Alliance Nigeria
Chair, FIDA International Child Rights Committee
Trustee, The Global Foundation For Elimination Of Domestic Violence
Goodwill Ambassador, OB-PS of The World Association of Girl Guides And Scouts
Board-Member, Africa Justice Foundation

 


Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Aisha Ahman-Pategi     Voices Of Tomorrow     SAPZ Project     Yusuf Abubakar     Mufutau Olatinwo     Oladimeji Thompson     Ganmo Power Sub-Station     Saba Jibril     Oba Of Jebba     Bankole Omishore     Ibrahim Abduquadri Abikan     GGDSS Pakata     Rachael Obisesan     Abatemi-Usman     Gbenga Olawepo     Abdulraheem Yusuf     Babs Iwarere     Olanrewju Okanlawon Musa     Amusement Park     Oloje     Elections     Shuaib Boni Aliyu     Aminu Ado Bayero     Ibrahim Agboola Gambari     Bayer AG     Omoniyi Ayinla     Gamji Members Association     Olomu     Tayo Alao     Sarah Jubril     Alliance For Democracy     Buari Edun     Olayinka Jelili Yusuf     Kubra Kazum     Saliu Ajia     Arca Santa     Basit Olatunji     Moses Adekanye     Colleges Of Education Academic Staff Union     Bisi Oyeleke     Musa Ayinla Yeketi     Kayode Laro     Yusuf Zulu-Gambari     Young Progressives Party     Code Of Conduct     CCEPE     Chief Imam Of Offa     08001000100     Rotimi Oyedepo     Women Radio     Oke-Ode     Oro Grammar School Old Students Association     Gurei     Seed Technologies     Owo Isowo     Jaiz Bank     Kwara Politics     Vasolar-Kwara Company Ltd     Kannike     Femi Gbajabiamila     Samuel Adaramola     Abdulfatai Baakini     Muhammad Ghali Alaaya     Yekini Adio     IsDB     Saidu Isa     CACOVID     Quranic Recitation Competition     Centre For Peace And Strategic Studies     Alapansapa     Kwara United     Ganiyu Abolarin     Guber Aspirant     Akom Construction And Engineering Synergy Ltd     New Naira Notes     Bilikisu Oniyangi     NTA Ilorin    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Abdulrauf Yusuf     Muritala Olarewaju     Ijagbo Health Centre     Dan Iya Of Ilorin     College Of Arabic And Islamic Legal Studies     Amuda Musbau     Wahab Olasupo Egbewole     Mohammed Khadijat Kubura     Bello Bature     Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Ibrahim Oniye     Omotoso Musa     Amos Justus Sayo     Ilesha-Baruba-Gwanara     Kwara State Television (KWTV)     Nigerian Correctional Service     Mohammed Ghali Alaaya     Mashood Dauda     Ado Bayero     Ajayi Okasanmi     Kwara Basketball Association     Abdulrasaq Alaro     Kwara State Television     Haashim Initiative For Community Advancement     Abatemi-Usman     MAI Akande     Ilorin South     Funmilayo Oniwa     IYA ALFA NLA     Elerin Of Erin-Ile     Abdulkadir Remi Hawawu     Afolayan     Bolakale Ayo     Salihu Yahaya     Yakub Ali-Agan     Igosun     Kwara Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board     Rafiu Ajakaye     Ganiyu Taofiq     Temitope Ogunbanke     Abdulrahman Abdulrazak     REO CAKES     SAPZ Project     Kaosarah Adeyi     Saraki     Raymond Olaitan     Abdulrahman Abdulrasak     Sardauna     Pakata     Deji Ajani     Tescom.kwarastate.gov.ng     Adeola Abraham     Tinubu     David Adesina     Lithium Deposit     Dunmade     Abdulrasheed Akogun     Simeon Ajibola     Rice Farmers Association Of Nigeria     Ilorin Descendants Progressive Union     Ndama Al-hassan     Yusuf Arowosaye     Kwara State Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations     Olokoba     Oyin-Zubair     Muhammad Akande Olarewaju Odunade     Ajuloopin     Lateef Alagbonsi     Oke-Ogun     Saidu Yaro Musa     Chemiroy Nigeria Limited     Obayomi Azeez     Abdulmumini Sanni Jawondo     Olayinka Olaogun     Sola Saraki Educational Foundation     Olatunde Michaels     NAWOJ