A girl child at school. Photo credit - Getty Images

Why The Girl Child must be Empowered

Introduction 

“What a man can do a woman can do better” is a popular adage to encourage the girl child to perform better. But, this cannot be the case when the girls are not given equal opportunities like the boys. Before a girl can do better than a boy, the narrative of not empowering the girls painted by society must be changed. The girl child is as good as the boy child. 

 

How to Empower the Girl Child 

To empower the girl child is to address the systemic barrier and create equal opportunities across several areas for the girls. Education must be made available to girls and they should be encouraged to pursue STEM courses (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Also, girls who are passionate about studying STEM courses should be supported by their families rather than discouraged. Laws that abolish and condemn cultural customs like child marriages, female genital mutilation (FGM), and gender-based violence should be enforced. This ensures that the right of the girl child is protected and their safety is guaranteed. At the same time, awareness should be created in local communities to shift cultural norms that are against girls. Providing girls with essential skills training and entrepreneurial knowledge allows them to become financially dependent from a young age. Also, the diligent entrepreneurs among them should be given access to loans, grants, and mentorship programs. 

 

Reasons to Empower the Girl Child

Everyone is entitled to equal opportunities and empowering the girl child ensures that they can access the same rights as the boys. In terms of quality education, employment, personal growth, financial independence, and leadership roles among others. Also, empowered girls can make informed and calculated choices as regards their health. Resulting in lower rates of child marriages, early or unwanted pregnancy, and maternal mortality. In addition, when girls are empowered they become financially dependent. Giving them the capacity to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. 

 

Empowering Women to look Up to 

Just to mention a few empowered women, the likes of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Ibukun Awosika, Mo Abudu, Tara Fela-Durotoye, and Obiageli Katryn Ezekwesili are leading their respective industries and making global impacts. They have been able to achieve this height because they were empowered by their families. 

 

Conclusion

Archaic and barbaric laws that promote injustice against girls should be abolished and the girls should be empowered. Empowering girls is not a waste of money like some families believe; rather it promotes a more equitable and prosperous society. 

 

Social Media: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mercy-odewale-20685622a

Mercy Odewale

VIEW ALL POSTS

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *