By Ben Adoga
Abuja based Non Governmental Organisation, NGO has mentored over 600 FCT native female children drawn from secondary schools in the FCT.
FCT natives who preferred to be called Original Inhabitants female children who have already been galvanised into the girl child parliament were mentored on social inclusion, equality and equity for the girl child, freedom of speech and association among others in Abuja in a one day workshop.
The NGO, Helpline Foundation for the Needy is of the opinion that catching the girl child early prepares them for the future and turns them to instruments of national development and human integrity.
Declaring the workshop open, President and Founder, Helpline Foundation for the Needy, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu disclosed that her organisation has, “over the years, taken the girl-child project as top priority among other objectives.”
She noted that the Foundation has given the girl-child a voice through the Voice of the Girls Parliament, where the girl-child meet to enact laws, and are mentored on leadership and other capacity building.
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Dr. Ahmadu who was represented by the Foundation’s Project Manager, Mr. Onoja Arome, revealed that the organisation has recently engaged over 189 FCT original inhabitant’s women and youths on local economic development project through traditional attire weaving to enhance their cultural preservation.
This, she said was to revive the dying tradition and culture of the people of Abuja who are becoming stateless and without identity in Nigeria as well as giving them a means of economic sustenance.
Speaking at the programme, Reproductive Health/Family Planning Program Officer, Pathfinder International, Nigeria, Kosi Izundu stated that sensitisation of girls of reproductive age in hard to reach areas was the way to go to get things right.
The project was supported by MacArthur Foundation, Resource Center for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), as well as Dr. Zikirulahi Ibrahim.
