AIFA Reading Society joins the rest of the wold to mark the International Day of the Girl Child, 2018 with the theme ‘With Her: A Skilled GirlForce’. According to the United Nations, today’s generation of girls are preparing to enter a world of work that is being transformed by innovation and automation. Educated and skilled workers are in great demand, but roughly a quarter of young people – most of them female – are currently neither employed nor in education or training.
The International Day of the Girl Child as declared by United Nations is celebrated annually on the 11th October to promote girl child empowerment and fulfilment of their human rights while also highlighting the challenges that girls all over the world face. The 2018 theme was focused on preparing and equipping girls for a successful transition into the world of work and exploring the existing learning opportunities available to the girl child.
This theme of girl empowerment through education and training mirrors the Society’s core mission to achieve sustainable educational development in Africa by promoting and supporting a reading culture. In line with this, the Society celebrated the International Day of the Girl Child with students of Wesley Girls Senior Secondary School, Yaba, and the Ideal Girls Senior High School, Surulere, Lagos on the 11th of October, 2018 and educated the young, eager students on the power of education and the need to acquire the right skills to enter the modern workforce.
On this occasion, the Society partnered with The Nigerian Girl Guides Association (NGGA) – a body that is committed to the development of girls and young women’s leadership potential through direct project work, educational programmes, leadership training, regional campaigns and advocacy work. Mrs. Titilola Ilori and Mrs. Salome Joseph of the NGGA sensitized students of Wesley Girls Senior Secondary School on the importance of education especially for girls. They pointed out that educating girls helps to reduce the rate of child marriage, increases their market relevance and financial capability. Also present at the occasion was Ms. Johnson, a representative of the Co-curricular, Science and Technology Department, Lagos State Education District IV. She advised the girls to be open and sensitive to vital information so as to recognise and embrace opportunities available to them to build a successful life.
The Society also partnered with a Counselling Psychologist, Mrs. Olatunde Turner-Edem, to educate the girls of Ideal Girls Senior High School. The final year students were engaged in an interactive session on how to apply knowledge to fit into the competitive world of work. Mrs. Turner-Edem also discussed practical steps to achieve a successful career and emphasised the importance of education for girls.
To crown the celebration, the Society presented copies of the books; ‘Season Crimson Blossoms’ by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim and ‘Makwala’ by E. E Sule (donated to the Society by Parresia Publishers) to the teachers and principals of Wesley Girls Senior Secondary School (24 copies), and Ideal Girls Senior High School (16 copies) to promote continuous reading. Mrs. Turner-Edem also donated four (4) copies of her book titled ‘The Life of the Abused’ to the library of Ideal Girls Senior High School, Surulere.
In this fast changing world, the Society believes it is essential to impact the girl child with the resources they need to survive, thrive and transform their communities, even in the most difficult circumstances.
