In a bid to build capacity for the girl child and bridge gender gap, Perpetua Ugbang Foundation (PUF), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), recently partnered other relevant organizations to empower young adolescent girls from various secondary schools in Calabar to mark the International Day for the Girl Child (IDGC).
Speaking at the event, the Executive-Director of the Foundation, Ms. Perpetua Ugbang stated that PUF is committed to support and provide quality education, health care, leadership development and stakeholder advocacy to better the lots of the girl child in the society.
The 2018 IDGC which came with the theme "With Her: A Skilled Girlforce," Ms. Ugbang called on government, CSOs and well-meaning individuals to help entrench Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by kicking out girl child illiteracy, human trafficking, as well as expanding the frontiers of knowledge for the girl child to make for an egalitarian and better society for all.
Also speaking, Mr. Godfrey Akwo, a representative of the Nigeria Red Cross Society, Cross River, spoke of the imperative of empowering the young female, noting that the girl child is always at the receiving end, especially during crisis situations.
He emphasized that by empowering the girl child; the society is one step ahead of getting better and will be even better if all hands are come to deck to enhance the capacity of the child.
Mrs. Sharon Simpa, Capacity and Organizational Advisor of HIFASS LOPIN3, also re-echoed the importance for a "skilled girlforce" and further pointed out that it is only through empowerment of such magnitude that the standard of the girl child can be uplifted.
The event that was laden with goodwill message by partners and representatives of participating schools also featured talks on Gender-Based Violence by HIV and Gender Advisor – HIFASS LOPIN3, Mrs. Mary Umoh.
The Perpetua Ugbang Foundation partnered the Nigerian Red Cross Society, HIFASS LOPIN 3, Second Chance Initiative, CRIMMD, PDF and Back-To-School Africa, in delivering such laudable project.
The event climaxed with distribution of sanitary pads to over a 100 girls, motivational books presented to best participating students and a Spelling Competition; with Government Secondary Scool, State Housing emerging winners, while Government Secondary School, Big Qua and Fruitful Vine International School came second and third respectively.
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