By Donald Iorchir
As part of activities to commemorate the Children’s Day celebration, a non-governmental organisation, Helpline Foundation for the Needy, organised a reach-out programme on personal hygiene, reproductive health and leadership skills for the girl-child in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The event held at the International Conference Center focused on sensitising the girl child on issues bordering on entrepreneurial skills, reproductive health, personal hygiene, communication and leadership skills.
President of the Foundation, Mrs. Jumai Ahmadu, the out-reach was aimed at creating sustainable opportunities for girls in public schools to lift their families out of poverty by acquiring the skills and confidence they need to be savvy entrepreneurs in future.
She said: “We, at Helpline Foundation for the Needy, Abuja, believe that every girl-child has the power and potential to transform their lives, regardless of where they were born or the challenges they are currently facing. They can find their strength and rise with the best possible guidance.
“It is in the light of the above that we have identified some distinguished women to deliver pep talks to our young girls in FCT public schools on how to develop their potential and place value on themselves.”
Continuing, she said: “Essentially, Helpline Foundation put up this programme as a result of an incident in one of the public schools in Abuja.
A girl, who was pregnant sought advice from her schoolmate and was advised to go for an abortion. During the process, she almost lost her life; however, when contacted by a good Nigerian, our Foundation rescued her and we felt there is a lot to do for the girl-child to realise their potential.”
Ahmadu, who said the programme was the maiden edition in the series of project the foundation was putting together for young school girls, assured that the programme would be sustained.
Earlier, the special guest of honour, Mrs. Aishatu Tokura, who spoke on the theme: “Girl, Realize Your Potential”, enjoined girls to always confide on their parents, noting that no God-fearing mother would mislead her daughter.
Tokura, who is the wife of the Chief of Staff to the Niger state governor, emphasized the need for the girl-child to be confident in order to realize her hidden potential, also stressed the importance of hard work and dedication to duty.
Other speakers at the out-reach included Dr. Elonna Chukwudile, Dr. Amina Dorayi, Dr. Badewa Adejugbe-Williams, Mrs. Halima Umaru, and Mrs. Senami Ohiomokhare, among others.
