The Global Women for Quality and Sustainable Development Initiative (GWSD) has encouraged women and girls to cultivate the habit of self esteem.
The GWSD Programme Officer, Iyobosa Ahonkhai spoke recently while addressing a cross section of Idia College students in Benin City in commemoration of this year’s International Day Of The Girl Child.
She said low self-esteem arises from gender discrimination against the girl child.
Ahonkhai noted that the society assigns certain roles and responsibilities to persons based on gender and the girl child is always assigned lesser roles in the society, as a result, she feels inferior to her male counterpart.
While addressing the students, the programme officer explained that “As a girl-child you are capable of more than you know, your gender should not be a limitation to your dream.”
With the theme, unscripted and unstoppable as illustration, Ahonkhai pointed out that there is no script dictating the future of anyone or neither is there any force that can stop any determined person from achieving his or her dreams irrespective of the gender.
She further encouraged the students to hold on to their lives ambitions and make a determined effort towards achieving their dreams despite the unfavorable conditions.
While encouraging the students to embrace education, the human rights activists said “Education remains the greatest weapon against gender discrimination. For anyone of you to reach the top or compete with anyone or students elsewhere in the globe, be studious and strive to be the best in your chosen career path.
An SS 2 Student of Idia College, Miss Rose, expressed deep appreciation to the women group for motivating them to have a sense of direction.
The Vice Principal of the Senior School also expressed their appreciation to GWSD regarding the visit and promised to continue to encourage the girls to pursue their dreams.
The International Day Of The Girl Child is marked 11th October yearly.
Global Women for Quality and Sustainable Development Initiative (GWSD) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that empowers women and girls through education and helps them achieving her dreams in life irrespective of the gender.
The Executive Director, GWSD, Amb. (Mrs) Mariam Kadiri Ezolome disclosed that the initiative is focused on obtaining equal opportunities for vulnerable, stigmatized or less privileged individuals through improved access to human capital development opportunities. “Our strategy involves local capacity building, advocacy/sensitization and promoting linkages to health and education service providers.”
GWSD is involved in raising awareness and addressing the challenges of the girl child such as Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), Menstrual hygiene Management, Educational inequality, self-esteem issues as well as child Marriage. In line with this, GWSD recently celebrated the International Day of the girl child 2019.
