Mrs Orji Urges Sound Training For Girl-Child

The wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs Mercy Orji, last Thursday called on churches, NGOs, civil society, the academia, government and other institutions to help achieve solid training for the girl-child.

Orji made the call in an address of welcome presented during the 2012 International Women’s Day celebration in Abia held at the Umuahia Township Stadium.

She said the young girl needed solid foundation to enable her to succeed in life and noted that to achieve that all and sundry must partner.

“Our girls can be guided to achieve their full potential in career choice as astronauts, pilots, engineers, computer scientists, medical doctors, geologists, sailors and diplomats,’’ she said.

The governor’s wife said the Nigerian society was threatened by high maternal mortality, absence of fundamental primary healthcare, more complicated medical problems, increasing prevalence of HIV/AIDS and other challenges.

She noted that if the womenfolk was empowered to tackle the challenges, the nation would have significant movement in its quest for all-round development.

Orji described the 2012 celebration with the theme ‘ Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures’, as apt, adding: “As baton bearers in our tomorrow’s relay race to greatness and service for excellence, we all must support the girl-child.’’

The governor’s wife who enumerated various programmes of her office to empower women in the state advised participants to avoid, ‘pull her down syndrome’ and be supportive of one another.

The event, attended by women groups from the 17 local government areas of the state, also witnessed calisthenics by primary school children, drama and dance.

Mrs Nnenna Chikezie, the Permanent Secretary in the women affairs ministry, extolled the governor’s wife for her various skill acquisition programmes for women and her encouragement of women to join politics, among others.

Prof. Alozie Anyim, a guest lecturer at the event, advised young girls to always abstain from immoral acts and maintain their virginity till marriage.

Anyim, whose lecture was titled “Need for Young Girls to Uphold Purity’, said maintaining such lifestyle would help build a better future for the female folk in the country.