Education is very essential in our society today and the girl child must be educated in order to have a bright future. Education is light and this light is indispensable especially in our fast changing world.

Educating the girl child is educating the nation. How can a woman be empowered without education? In our society the girl child is seen as a “second class citizen” more relevance is accorded to the male child. Girls, especially in the African continent are at disadvantage in accessing formal and informal education.

There have been beliefs and cultural practices that dampen the aspiration of girl-child to compete with the male. There are myopic fears that once a girl gets married, she becomes someone’s responsibility and loses contact with her parents. The tradition also makes the woman to be solely depended on her husband for every need and want. Some cultures in Nigeria believe that the place of a woman is in her husband’s kitchen and bearing children but the girl is human and needs to be given the same chance as her male counterpart.

But should the woman depend on her husband for everything? What of if the husband as breadwinners dies? What then happens to her fate and that of the children?

Surely a woman needs education to be well-informed and independent. It is only through knowledge skill that she could make positive impact, not only to her family but to the society at large.

With education, the female child would be enlightened on health and national issues, a better way of bringing up her children, make informed decisions about her future and protect herself from trafficking, sexual exploitation HIV and AIDS. Education provides a better awareness on health matters especially on HIV and AIDS which has no cure and it’s swiftly ravaging the society. 

An educated female child tends to be aware of her rights, improve her living standard and that of her family and society at large. With education, the girl child is informed about political issues and how to be activity involved in politics thereby contributing to national development. It is the collective responsibility of every member of the society, the government inclusive to ensure that our female children are educated not left on the streets hawking either to fend for themselves or those who have sent them. Some of them end up in prostitution or give in to traffickers who use them to make money.

 Nigeria government should strengthen the power of her relevant agencies on the Protection of Child Rights. They should be further empowered to deal with the protection of child rights where children’s courts can be set off to provide speedy trial of offences against children or of violation of child rights. Those agencies should intensify efforts in monitoring abuses against children and works to end them. They should also be actively involved in addressing problems associated with trafficking of children for labor and prostitution; discrimination in education because of race, gender, sexual orientation, or HIV/AIDS; physical and sexual violence against girls and boys.

Every girl-child has certain basic rights. Therefore, they should have the right to life, to personal identity, right to relate with any grouping and have a relationship with both parents, even if they are separated. And above all, the girl-child should have the right to quality education which is the best legacy a parent can leave for their children. Children are gifts from God and should not be discriminated against because of their sex; they should all be given equal rights.

Educating the girl is investing in her economic independence and leadership once she completes school, thereby help in the fight against poverty in our society. The government should ensure that parents are enlightened on the need to educate the female child especially those in the rural areas who have little or no knowledge about education. Also reduce gender gap in schooling for girls and give equal access to all levels of education. For a better, tomorrow the girl child needs love, care and good education. We must all support the dream of girl-child.

Rita K. Gonyok

NYSC Corper

National Press Centre, Abuja

Robot  # 1 | 30.08.2008 00:39

Education is very essential in our society today and the girl child must be educated in order t...Read the full article.

Dewdrops  # 2 | 30.08.2008 02:00

=Robot;4295090723>Education is very essential in our society today and the girl child must be educated in order t...Read the full article. Educating the girl is investing in her economic independence and leadership once she completes school, thereby help in the fight against poverty in our society. The government should ensure that parents are enlightened on the need to educate the female child especially those in the rural areas who have little or no knowledge about education. Also reduce gender gap in schooling for girls and give equal access to all levels of education. For a better, tomorrow the girl child needs love, care and good education. We must all support the dream of girl-child. Preach it again please! But should the woman depend on her husband for everything? What of if the husband as breadwinners dies? What then happens to her fate and that of the children? Preach that to the ladies bold enough to remain "home makers" for eons! They are very brave indeed! I can never take such a chance since it puts me at risk for leeching off another man as soon as the first husband ceases to exist. I want to always remain confident that I don't have to put up with another man if the need does not arise. Educating the girl child is educating the nation. How can a woman be empowered without education? In our society the girl child is seen as a “second class citizen” more relevance is accorded to the male child. Girls, especially in the African continent are at disadvantage in accessing formal and informal education. Only in primitive societies!

tinaadinlofu  # 3 | 30.08.2008 09:47

Well written article!

Oluwato  # 4 | 30.08.2008 11:19

Thanks Rita. I love your determination, reasoning and passion. Nice article. I read that you are a corper. You remind me of the "young" days. I hope your fire is not quenched. The "real" world is very dark!!! You keep shining your little light, and join with other light bearers... I hope you know of (and belong to) organizations that promote education for females. You will need your like-minded sisters in this journey called life. All the best.

M. Akosa  # 5 | 30.08.2008 11:59

Very lately I have read articles like this one, written by NYSC members. I am wondering if this is a new orientation crusade for them? Please can we quickly re-direct these very important issues raised by this article to any woman engaging in these practices and activities: * Using an underage girl child (relatives or not) as a house help, maid or servant. * Post secondary school educated women in polygamous marriage arrangement. *Human traffickers, enforcers, madams, fee collectors, pimps within Nigeria and outside. Then we can as women solve the problem of exclusion, systematic retardation of the girl child, abuse, exploitation and cruelty; without seeking help or intrusions from men to come and help bail us out or to put an end to this evil, social and humanitarian ill within the Nigerian society.

Oluwato  # 6 | 30.08.2008 16:31

=M. Akosa;4295090860>Very lately I have read articles like this one, written by NYSC members. I am wondering if this is a new orientation crusade for them? Maybe it's the psychological accomplishment boost becoming a graduate brings. I remember thinking like a minor until I earned my first degree. =M. Akosa;4295090860> Please can we quickly re-direct these very important issues raised by this article to any woman engaging in these practices and activities: Thanks for your pragmatism. It is indeed a shameful thing that women are active participants in the using your words, systematic retardation of the girl child. There are many reasons why that happens, that is why Nigerian feminists need all the support they can get. It's a really dark world! But o I dream of that day, when women will truly stop exploiting the girl child...!

M. Akosa  # 7 | 30.08.2008 16:44

To Oluwato. God bless you my sister. I am in your camp. The enemy has no gender, color or tribal identity. I know for sure that in Nigeria, one day will come when the greater majority of girl children will become glorious, free of abuse, sexual harassment, inequality, victimization and waste. Able to relate to the men in mutually respectful partnership!!!

BiafranPrincess  # 8 | 30.08.2008 18:54

=M. Akosa;4295090958>To Oluwato. God bless you my sister. I am in your camp. The enemy has no gender, color or tribal identity. I know for sure that in Nigeria, one day will come when the greater majority of girl children will become glorious, free of abuse, sexual harassment, inequality, victimization and waste. Able to relate to the men in mutually respectful partnership!!! I echo ur sentiments jare! We must all fight this fight together, one person at a time.