Obiajulu Ugwu, the deputy chief whip of the Enugu State House of Assembly, has urged parents and governments to prioritise girl child education for national development.

Ms Ugwu made the call on Friday in Enugu at a workshop organised for secondary school students in Enugu South Local Government Area.

She reiterated the determination to ensure women’s inclusion and gender equality in Enugu State, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Ms Ugwu emphasised the need to build girls’ capacity to be qualified and included.

“It is not that we do not have qualified females, but there is a need to bring up these young females to the level that is globally accepted.

“Most times, the men think that the women are in competition with them, but in all honesty, it is not competition. What we are coming to do is to complement the men.

“It is a collaboration, but it must be balanced for it to thrive and work. This workshop, therefore, is focused on personal development, leadership skills, and nutrition, providing girls with insights from accomplished women in various fields,” she noted.

The lawmaker noted that the workshop was also a step toward bridging the gender gap in education and empowering future leaders.

She explained that investing in girls is crucial for the development of every society.

A guest speaker at the event, Chukwuma Okenwa, challenged girls to ensure nothing stopped them from developing their capacities.

Mr Okenwa noted that the clamour for inclusion of women into strategic leadership positions would only benefit those who empowered themselves through education, urging them to take their studies seriously.

He criticised men who intentionally suppressed and prevented their wives from being empowered, adding that such families suffered when the eventuality occurred.

A nutrition expert, Onyeka Udegbunam, asked the participants to be mindful of their nutrition, as it contributes to their physical and mental well-being.

Mr Udegbunam warned that malnutrition could cause one to have stunted growth. He asked school administrators to reintroduce farm gardens in their various schools to fight malnutrition. 

(NAN)