The CEO, ROTDOW, Mrs. Olabisi Omolona while underscoring the importance of laying solid foundation for the girl-child from home, stressed that a well equipped girl child will have great impact on the larger society as she will be able to choose right as she gets to various bus stops in life.
Mrs. Omolona who said the role of good parenting can not be over emphasized, said it is high time intending couples acquire necessary skills for marriage before venturing into it as those who are not well tutored as couples will only compound the problems in the society because of the kind of children they will end up raising.
In a paper she titled : “HOW TO EQUIP YOUR GIRL CHILD FOR THE FUTURE AHEAD”, Mrs. Ogunjebi while looking at ways to equip the girl child identified basic tools which include Educational training, Health/ wellbeing, social/peer pressure, Social Media, Connection/helplessness skills, Emotional needs and the mind/life skills among others as areas of interest that will go a long way in assisting the girl child achieve her dreams.
“Education is a basic right. The home must offer moral training on basic etiquette to a girl child. A poor sitting posture can be a huge turn off in some settings. Education without character is of course a problem. Lettered education is as important as character too. Also, help a girl child understand socializing- the concept of hanging out before she hears it from friends. Normalise free communication if you want that girl to be ready for the future.
A girl child needs to be street wise. Yes! She needs to work and be strong. Yes! But she needs connection too. Do not put a girl child in a state of helplessness if you want her overall best.
Do not discuss matters such as difficult friendships or divorce with them. Shield the girl child from the evils you may experience”, she further stressed just as she underscored the importance of health and mental wellbeing of a girl child urging parents to make available sanitary towels, clean environment, clean clothes among others in order to assure her of a future.
Other issues raised include the need to help the girl-child navigate issues on her mind saying the mind is a planet of ideas, thoughts, feelings and as such she must be taught lessons in life skills before she sets out.
Mrs. Ogunjebi also used the opportunity to charge parents to mentor their daughters. “At every stage, we must take interest in building girls, follow up on them and help them find worthy mentors in their chosen fields of interest”, she added.
