As Nigeria joins the global community in celebrating international day of the girl child, Dame Judith Amaechi, wife of the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi has called on parents and caregivers to have a shared attention between the girl child and boy child.
According to the former First Lady of Rivers State, every child deserves adequate attention irrespective of gender, adding that as someone being groomed to become a father and leader in future, the boy child should not be relegated to be background.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday when she played host to the management of a IgbereTV who were in her home to formally inform her that she has been voted by Nigerians as 2021 Woman of the year, she said if the boy child is starved attention, both in education and economic empowerment, the society becomes volatile for the generality of the populace.
“I advocate, not only for the girl but for the boy child also. I look forward to having a situation where the girl is not denied her rights or opportunities simply because she is a girl.
“I believe in both the girl child and boy child. If you only emphasize on the girl child, what happens to the boy? A good boy makes a good home as well. He is the father, the leader.
“For me, my emphasis is on the child, whether it is boy or girl. But for that of the girl, I will not support the idea of denying her access to every privilege the boy has no matter the child.
“I think progress is being made in giving her a place of prominence in the society. It is an ongoing process. It never ends. I can’t really say we have achieved all the best as a nation.
“There is a lot more to be done especially in terms of awareness but when you create an educational opportunity, you give that child access to becoming who he/she wants to become tomorrow and that is part of my personal project I am pursuing” she said.
She expressed delight that what she described as some obnoxious laws of the past hindering the progress of the girl child are being dropped, expressing optimism that the future is bright for the Nigerian children.
Commenting on her emergence as 2021 Woman of the Year, she expressed gratitude to those who voted for her to emerge the winner, saying she would continue to affect lives as part of her contribution to the development of the Nigeria society.
Dame Judith Amaechi defeated Folorunsho Alakija, the Group Managing Director of The Rose of Sharon Group, Genevieve Nnaji, veteran Nollywood Actress, Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations to emerge victorious.
She emerged winner with 918,896 votes just as the other nominees secured the following votes:
Genevieve Nnaji 507, 741 votes,
Folorunsho Alakija, 87,855 votes,
Amina Mohammed 70, 887.
The prestigious award, organised by IgbereTV, is endorsed by the African Union, African Film Institute. It recognises and honours the outstanding impact of leaders in both the public and private sectors in Nigeria.
The 2021 edition award presentation is scheduled to hold on November 2 at Sheraton Hotel and Towers Abuja.
