Sustainability Consultant and founder, Green Planting Emmanuella Onyeka has said there is a need to address the challenges hindering girls from having equal opportunities.
Onyeka, who spoke with Journalists at a summit hosted by Nigeria Reads and HAFAI Wednesday in Abuja.
According to her, addressing these drawbacks will open up access to social justice, education, voting, access to proper healthcare.
Through this, she said, they will be able to speak up and their voices will not just be heard but their opinion implemented at all levels of government.
The sustainability consultant explained that tree planting was to show the girls how planting a tree can mitigate climate change impact.
She further said it also shows that they can be involved, “and to let the girls know that planting is one of the mechanism that can mitigate the impact of climate change.”
Also, a Mentee with Global Glow, Nigeria Reads, Samantha Umar attributed Gender Based Violence (GBV), lack of basic education and host of other anomalies as factors surpressing the voices of the girl-child.
Samantha noted that girls are powerful and have all it takes to change the narrative of the nation if given the opportunity.
Also, Global Glow Nigeria Mentee Godwin Karen, said the regional summit has brought girls from different parts of the world together to build networks and find solution to problems affecting girls.
She noted that trees have been planted and they have been taught ways on how to curb climate change impact using the tree means of sustainability which is reduce, reuse and recycle.
Also, President Rotary club of Wellington, district 1145 United Kingdom, UK, Rotarian Folashade Demuren said in line with the rotary year, they are engaging with girls on climate issues which is one area of focus of their project.
She said that in this part of the world, most times the girls are at a disadvantage as they are suppressed unlike in the UK.
“We are in the 21st century and we felt it should have gone down a bit it still manifest especially in the Northern part except the rich and affluent due to one thing or the other are set back, so I felt it is better to come back home and give back to the society,” she said.
