AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
Zonta Club of Ibadan II has reiterated its readiness to address some of the socio-economic challenges besetting women and the girl child through provision of amenities in the most affected communities.
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Specifically, the organisation said that it would embark on solar lighting project for some selected rural communities in order to address the issue of rape and other related crimes against women and the girl child.
The Zonta Club also indicated its resolve to train no fewer than 1,000 girls in digital/coding literacy and skill acquisition.
Also to be supported are victims of human trafficking, majority of whom are women and the girls.
During her installation as the 2022-2023 Biennium President and the induction of new board members and fund raising luncheon at the Zonta Multi-purpose Hall, Baale Oyewole Road, Jericho, Ibadan, on Sunday, Dr Olufunmi Adegbile pledged that “Zonta Club of Ibadan will continue to use its influence with the government to implement policies against gender-based violence like wife-beating, widow neglect, unwelcome sexual advances, rape, female genital mutilation/child brides, forced prostitution through human trafficking, forced abortion, widow abuse, discrimination in employment and poor mindset traditions.
“Under my administration for this biennium, a total of N38.5m will be spent to carry out the following projects: attention will be given to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
“We will train about 1,000 young girls in digital/coding literacy and provide 20 undergraduate projects in Engineering and Science/Award scholarships through the Golden Z Club.
“There will be the provision of solar lighting for some rural communities such as Jarija, Sango Ibon etc basically to reduce constant evil/wicked perpetuation in such communities.”
She lamented, “Women suffer more from lack of electricity on the streets because most of them have to leave the house early to go to the streams and farms. In the process, some have been molested. Women and young girls have been gang-raped, and in some cases, some of these women have been killed.”
Harping on the need to educate the girl child, the Zonta President disclosed that the group planned to empower no fewer than 500 girls and donate 200 free eye glasses to the poor within its jurisdiction.
Stressing the need to pay attention to children at an early age, the President said, “When you want to do anything fantastic, you got to catch them young.”
Prof. Adebola Ogunbiyi,
Head of Department of Medicine, University of Ibadan/University College Hospital, who was Guest Lecturer on the occasion, noted that lack of education for women and the girl child accounted for rise in gender-based violence.
Ogunbiyi stated, “The first question is why do we continue to have gender inequality in our society? The girl child in Nigeria is grossly disadvantaged.
“There is a lot of focus on the girl child. I work in a hospital, it is amazing why lots of men don’t put women as next of kin. There was a day I was in the clinic, a woman brought her two year old daughter. She was diagnosed of genital watts. She had sexually transmitted disease.
“I had difficulty telling her. When I told her, she was not alarmed. She asked if she could bring her two other daughters for check. I informed my lawyer friend and she said that there was nothing that could be done unless the woman wanted to prosecute the matter.
“When I asked the woman if she wanted to take the matter up in court, she asked me if I had a house where I could put her. So many women and girl child succumbed to abuse because they would not be able to cope when sent out of home by their violators.
“Most parents are very busy while others can hardly make ends meet. To empower ourselves include eating well. Today, the rise in cancer is worrisome. All these boil down to education.”
In his address, Wale Babalakin, Nigerian businessman, lawyer and philanthropist, expressed joy at Zonta’s level of commitment.
The Chairman of The Bi-Courtney Group of companies, who said that “As a young man, I had been fascinated by Zonta,” donated in support of the proposed project of Zonta Club of Ibadan II.
In accordance with the opinion of other members of the club, Dr Omolara Smith, a former President of Zonta in Ibadan II, urged parents and guardians alike to nurture their children in the way of the Lord in a bid for them to become law abiding citizens.
This, she said, would help to avert the violation of the vulnerable members of the society.
