Experts in Artificial Intelligence and child protection have suggested that the girl child should neither be discriminated against nor subjected to any form of inequality, but should be encouraged to follow the footsteps of prominent women who have made marks in various fields of endeavours as their mentors.
The experts gave the advice at an event organised by the Child Protection Network in Oyo State on the occasion marking this year’s International Day of the Girl Child with the theme, ‘Digital generation, our generation,’ in Ibadan, the state capital.
The speakers, among whom were the Chief Executive Officer of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence of Nigeria, Dr. Olusola Ayoola; a lecturer at the University College Hospital, Patricia Abokede; and Oluwatoyin Ogedengbe, the Oyo State Coordinator of CPN, urged the girls to take icons like Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Amina Mohammed, Obi Ezekwesili and the first ladies across the states as their role models.
Emphasizing that those who take prominent people as models had higher chances of becoming great in life, Ayoola, said, “Do not be distracted and discouraged by community issues and the unpleasant news we hear all over the world. Rather, they should have their focus on the fact that there are many females doing greatly well in the world today.
“We have Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who is the Director-general of World Trade Centre; Amina Mohammed, who is the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations; and so many great women. This should be the motivation.
“Women should prepare themselves for the future without bothering about the constraints. When you don’t limit yourself to the current situation in the environment, you will be a great woman.”
Abokede, a lecturer and child protection activist, urged the girl child to rise above discrimination and abuses, while Ogedengbe said taking prominent women as role models would serve as an impetus for them.
She urged the government to play its part in motivating the girl child by projecting great women in the society to them.
On her own part, Ayoola said, “The girl child is very important. She is the mother of the nation. You can’t do without the girl child. As female you can reach your potential. I want all to support the girl child and they should not be limited. There are a lot of successful women in the nation and the world like Okonjo-Iweala, Amina, Obi Ezekwesili and governors’ wives and that of the President and so many successful women.”
