07:01
Wife of the Senate President, Toyin Saraki, on Friday,
December 4, 2015 challenged girls to focus on gaining
education and leadership skills to make a difference in
their communities.
This was contained in a press statement signed by the
media office of the Senate President.
Mrs Saraki who is also the founder of the Wellbeing
Foundation Africa (WBFA), gave the advice in Abuja
when the Nigerian Girl Guides
Association, Gwagwalada Area Council visited her.
She said that it is necessary for girls to take up
leadership roles in order to become effective change
agents in their generation.
The wife of the Senate President noted that while giving
girls access to quality education has the potential to
transform communities and facilitate sustainable
development; globally, 31 million girls of primary school
age and 32 million girls of lower secondary school age
are out of school, with sub-Saharan Africa suffering the
lowest proportion of countries with gender parity in
education.
While underscoring the importance of education in
achieving overall success in life, Mrs. Saraki stated,
“Education is key because it empowers girls by helping
them achieve other basic human rights and breaking
generational poverty cycles.
“Beyond personal fulfillment and growth, education is a
source for social development and economic growth. In
societies where women and men are more equal,
economies grow faster; and general wellbeing is improved. ”
Mrs. Saraki, a long standing supporter of the World
Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS)
and a signatory to the Girl Declaration – a call to action,
also urged global leaders to put adolescent girls at the
heart of the post-2015 agenda, and partner to
the Girl Effect.
She motivated the girls by sharing the inspiring
stories of some of the world’s leading girl
advocates, whom she mentored at the 2015 United
Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Girl Declaration VIP
Mentoring Session.
Also, she further lauded the Nigerian Girl Guides
Association for their role in aiding young girls and
women to become responsible citizens and
accomplished leaders.
She urged the girls to take advantage of the
opportunities and tools that they have been given, to
work towards becoming role models to other girls and
young women within their communities.
Saraki also commended the coordinators of the Holy
Rosary Secondary School Girl Guides
in Gwagwalada for their work and efforts in empowering
young adolescent girls to take a more visible and
positive role in their community.
The high point of the visit was the presentation by Mrs
Saraki of a copy of the Girl Declaration and World
Association of Girl Guides and Girl
Scout (WAGGGS) Sustainable Development Goal badges
to each girl on the delegation.
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