The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), on Saturday appealed to governments at all levels and Nigerians to do more to protect the girl-child from exploitation and segregation in the country.
The Chairman of the organisation in Anambra, Mr Vincent Ezekwueme, sais in Enugu on ways to better the lots of the Nigerian-girl child.
According to Ezekwueme, it is not enough for government to formulate policies and programmes to protect and ensure the provision of adequate security and welfare for every Nigerian girl.
“But the strict and religious implementation of all these good policies and programmes are highly necessary to reposition the lots of the Nigerian-girl child,” he said.
Ezekwueme, who is an active girl-child activist, said that there was an urgent and inevitable need to provide conducive atmosphere for Nigeria girls and youths to actualise the fulfillment of their life potential.
“Worthy of note is that responsible girls precipitate responsible mothers and nation.
“It is of prime importance for concerted efforts to be made by governments, parents, religious leaders and stakeholders to eradicate rape, child labour, female abuses and circumcision.
“Others include: girl-child discrimination, child marriage, low girls enrollment in schools that has retarded the actualisation of full potential of Nigerian girls.
“Government should provide free and compulsory education of girl-child to senior secondary school, and also establish education bank to enable indigent girls further their education.
“Governments should provide adequate security and social amenities in schools for the benefit of the girl-child,” he said.
He said no stone should be left unturned until the dream of the girl-child was actualised to give them a sense of belonging and eliminate suffering, exploitation and segregation.
The CLO boss commended the unique virtues of Dr Joe Odumakin whom he said had been a great promoter of education and well-being of children, indigent students and the oppressed.
