Aisha Babangida, Chairman of the Better Life Programme for African Rural Women, has advocated equal opportunity for the girlchild through digital education, as their counterparts, to promote growth.
Aisha, first daughter of the former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida, said this at an event organised by Topaz Toastmaster Club (TMC), on Tuesday night in Abuja.
The event themed: “Digital generation, our generation”, was organised by the club to commemorate this year’s United Nations International Day of the Girl Child.
According to her, there is a gap in the female representation in governance, therefore the need to empower the girlchild to equally participate actively in elections as their male counterparts.
“It is no surprise that when you notice a female among 10 males, is well to do with the internet, in about two third of developed countries.
“In today’s world, there are several opportunities for both girls and boys, men and women, online; but one of such opportunities online is the digital divide, which has increased.
“One of the targets of increasing the number of girl children exclusively online, the girls are more likely to come up through Internet access.
“By the time they begin, it will raise their awareness through Internet access, about ways to implement programmes online or offline to being empowered.
“Of course it will not be easy, nothing of challenge comes easy, but it will be worth it.”
Also speaking, the President of TMC, Abuja chapter, Mr Montaz Abubakar, said there is a need for holistic approach on empowerment of the girl child, to achieve desired goals.
According to him, more should be done to raise awareness on the need for the empowerment of the girlchild.
Abubakar said: “Be it my grandmother or the girl in Internally Displaced Persons camp, we must say it clearly that our attitude towards the girlchild is wrong, biased and heartless.
“Deserved needs, dignity and security of the girlchild are important; the digital generation of the girlchild must continue to be our daily need.
“Everywhere proves digital education is no longer secondary in any way, therefore we can lend the bigger hand by contributing our awareness and let the girl know that technology is her biggest resource.
“Similarly, we can support non-governmental organisations on girlchild related issues, so whatever is said about or behind us, may it never be that we rejected the opportunity to support the girl child.”
The event featured panel discussion on benefits of digital education of the girlchild and presentation of gifts to distinguished personalities.
The International Day of the girl child is celebrated globally on Oct. 11, annually.