Wife of Abia State Governor Mrs Priscilia Otti has said that her office in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs is more determined and committed than ever to restore sanity and bring an end to all forms of abuse of the girl child in the State.
Mrs Otti who stated this during an event to mark the 2024 International Day of the Girl Child, held at JAAC Secretariat Umuahia, maintained that she would make the State a living hell for anyone harbouring the thought of exploitating the young girls.
Mrs Otti who described the theme of the event; “Girls Vision For the Future” as timely and critical to the collective aspirations of state, renewed her commitment to building a world where every young girl can thrive, dream and achieve greatness without any hindrances
According to her, the day offers an opportunity for young girls to deeply reflect on the unique challenges facing them to include; Poverty, limited access to quality education, healthcare, child labour, forced marriages and discrimination within the Society stemming from Gender based bias.
She regretted how the worsening economic situation has made most parents to neglect their duty of taking care of the young girls to pursue wealth and other responsibilities, adding that the girls often times are victims of exploitation, sexual abuse and violence.
Speaking earlier, Commissioner for women Affairs Mrs Maureen Aghukwa, described a Girl child as a female between the ages of 0-19 years, adding that the period marks the crucial stage of human development when one is faced with various social, cultural barriers and peers influences which most times subject them to early marriage, abuses and other vices. She called for a collective support to address the situation.
The event which had keynote speeches on theme of the event by the Director, Center for Gender, Youth and Child Development MOUAU, Prof Mabel Onwuka, also featured the cutting of the cake by Mrs Prescilla Otti.
