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| Mrs. Allwell Ademola and the students |
The Youth Artisan Initiative Foundation (YAIF) a youth-centric community-based organisation with an anchor vision of modelling youths to become models worthy of emulation in society in collaboration with Allwell Ademola, an actor and filmmaker, commemorated International Day of the Girl Child with over 2,000 students.
The celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child, according to the United Nations, is celebrated every year on 11th of October, but the Foundation decided to celebrate it on November 1st, 2023, at the French Language Village in Ajara, Badagry, Lagos State.
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| Princess Allwell Ademola and Sanni Oladapo |
Princess Allwell Ademola, an actor and filmmaker, said in her address to the students she spoke on, Investment in girls is the key to sustainable government, "parents should invest more in their girl child as the girls are now doing almost everything the boy child can do. Why can't we have a female president or governor? Because your mother understands your pain, which is why you go to her when you need something.
"Imagine when we have a female president. Now that everyone is crying about the economic conditions of the country, a woman will understand the condition of the people better. Not every man who comes to your house is your uncle; there's no way you can trust someone who is not related to you by blood. Don't visit any man without the consent of your parents. Make sure your parents are your friends and tell them everything you're going through."
In an interview with NewsPeddlers, "I feel good being among the girl child today. I felt emotional when I first entered the hall, as this is something I loved to do as a child. It's beautiful being among innocent souls. Mothers shouldn't let their children miss this subsequently.
"It is a beautiful event for young people to meet themselves and to learn. Parents need to be here too to learn something about how to raise their kids and how to help them in their careers to become better person. Every girl child should believe in themselves, believe in God, face their education, and go for what they intend to become in life. She further commented on the effort of the Youth Artisan Initiative Foundation and that they should do better in subsequent events", she said.
Sanni Oladapo, the Executive Director, Youth Artisan Initiative Foundation, said, "This is to tell the girl child that they are not weaker vessels, but they are unique in their own way. The girl child should hold firm, be steadfast, dream big, and achieve big. The turnout is very impressive; this place can't accommodate us again, and we have to look for a bigger venue for next year's programme."
Mrs. Mobosun Chinyere, the CEO of the Most Beautiful Girl in Badagry, said, "From my experience as a mother, every mother must have time for their kids, give them listening ears, and always pay attention to their children. Parents need to monitor the skills of their children; this will bring them closer, and parents should also find time to communicate with them."
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| The winner of the beauty pageant and Mrs. Mobosun Chinyere |
She pleaded with parents to allow their children to attend such events: "These girls will learn things about how to behave like a growing woman and how to arrange themselves so that people will not take advantage of them."
Benjamin Deborah, a JSS 2 student at Kesna College, said, "I learned today that all girls have to encourage themselves. As the male child is not better than us, the girls are a gift to this life. Girls need to be attending events like this, as it teaches girls how to build themselves up and to meet people who will tell them more about their lives." She appreciated the organisers for how composed the program was.
Mrs. Jonathan Rose, a teacher at Bokem School, said, "The notion that girl child life ends in the kitchen is very wrong, because this affects the self-esteem of the child, who can be easily misled by friends and peer pressure. The parents have more role to play in the lives of the children; the teachers will only try their best."
"I believe both the male and female child should be treated equally, as they can both become great," she said.
Mrs. Kate Okoye Onyekachukwu, a guest, said, "The girl child needs to hold on to their dreams and be forced in life; despite any life distraction, they should marry their book, as this is the means to get to where they are going in life.
Both male and female are important, and parents need to learn how to support their dreams."
Akinra Marry, a student from God with Us School, said "I learned that as a girl child, we should not look down on ourselves, as that happens for a reason, and that we should continue without giving up".