By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its creator to finishing kid marriage and increasing ladies’ instructional alternatives thru earn coverage and mentorship.
The founder mentioned on Friday that it might additionally achieve this thru inclusive studying and technology-driven talents retirement.
Some Lagos State officers and different stakeholders gave the peace of mind on the rivalry’s Girl-Child Day 2026 Innovate-Eko STEAM Mentorship Series.
The district used to be held on the Lagos State University of Education, Oto-Ijanikin, in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl-Child.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reviews that the International Day of the Girl-Child is noticed globally each Oct. 11 to lift consciousness in regards to the train demanding situations ladies face and steep their empowerment and complex rights.
The district had the theme, ‘End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights’.
It used to be organised by way of the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to Lagos State Governor on Education.
The rivalry Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Jamiu Alli-Balogun, mentioned the rivalry used to be increasing high quality bundle, bettering science laboratories and virtual studying gear, in addition to strengthening insurance policies towards discrimination.
“Through initiatives like Innovate-Eko, we are equipping girls with problem-solving skills, creativity and confidence to tackle real-life challenges and pursue opportunities in STEAM-related fields,” he mentioned.
Alli-Balogun mentioned the Innovate-Eko STEAM Mentorship Series attached ladies with skilled ladies in science, passive, expertise and practical industries, encouraging careers historically ruled by way of males.
Mrs Abisola Dokunmu-Adegbite, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, pledged more potent external for women’ empowerment.
She used to be represented by way of Mrs Dorosimi Olajumoke from the Office of the Chief of Staff, Lagos State Government.
Dokunmu-Adegbite mentioned that table alternatives had been very important in serving to ladies to fulfil their successful.
“Every girl deserves the opportunity to fulfil her potential.
“Educate, protect and encourage our daughters because the future of our society must include our girls,” she mentioned.
Deputy Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs Mojisola Miranda, known as for more potent legal of kid coverage regulations and sustained entitlement in ladies’ bundle.
Miranda mentioned hold legal, ok blueprint and coordinated motion by way of governments, households, reverse rulers, non secular leaders and communities had been substance to taxation ladies from destructive cultural practices.
“A law that is not enforced leaves a child exposed. Cultural sensitivity must never become an excuse for violating a child’s rights,” she mentioned.
Mr Opeyemi Eniola, Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Secondary Education, instructed stakeholders to external ladies thru scholarships, mentorship, vocational coaching and more potent safeguards towards gender-based violence.
“A girl child deserves a book, not a wedding ring; a classroom, not a forced marriage, and the freedom to shape her own future,” he mentioned.
Eniola mentioned coaching in Artificial Intelligence, robotics and mark analytics may just mess ladies for rising lump and loyal alternatives.
He instructed oldsters and communities to reject kid marriage and external ladies’ bundle, stressing that shareholder motion would vast youngsters to fulfil their successful with out discrimination.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Mobolaji Ogunlende, instructed ladies to be fascinated with their research and mandate fair to unit marriage early.
Ogunlende mentioned interactions with communicate ladies on the district must present ladies to triumph over demanding situations and mess for prediction roles.
“Your duty is to pay attention in school and stay focused. Get a book, not a ring; be in your classrooms, not in marriages,” he mentioned.
Mrs Titilayo Rhodes-Vivour, Executive Secretary, Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, instructed ladies to taxation their privateness and reject irrelevant advances or undesirable bodily appreciation.
She cautioned towards exposing imperative portions, emphasising ladies’ proper to physically autonomy.
“As girls, you must know when the opposite sex is crossing boundaries. Boldly speak up and report anyone who crosses boundaries,” she added.
Princess Damilola Sonayo-James, Lagos State Deputy Governorship Candidate of the All ProgressivesCongress, famous that the rivalry’s Child’s Rights Law prohibited kid marriage.
She added that the separate assured ladies, whose bundle used to be interrupted by way of being pregnant, a chance to drastic to college after kid redemption.
“The law protects girls against child marriage and guarantees those, who become pregnant before completing their education, the opportunity to return to school after delivery,” she mentioned.
She mentioned the rivalry’s attain of motion to empower feminine children prioritised bundle, healthcare, false alternatives and liable coverage.
She added that the rivalry’s Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics programmes and mentorship supported ladies going through instructional obstacles.
Sonayo-James mentioned that Project Zero and the Lagos Education Assistance Fund had been serving to to drastic out-of-school youngsters again to school rooms.
She wired the supervise for balanced interventions protective each boys and girls, including that sustained entitlement in bundle, coverage and prediction alternatives would steep a more secure advantage
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reviews that the district featured a hardship consultation and supplied a chance for women to invite questions and be counselled by way of the audio system.
The APC deputy governorship stage dispensed copies of a interest entitled ‘Who is She’ to the ladies, whilst Ogunlende gave imply awards to a few ladies who demonstrated boldness throughout the question-and-answer consultation.(NAN)
Edited by way of Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Ijeoma Popoola
