To promote gender inclusiveness and equality in rural communities, the Commissioner for Education in Bayelsa State, Dr. Gentle Emelah, has inaugurated gender and inclusion clubs at select secondary schools in Yenagoa.
The establishment of these gender equality and inclusion clubs in secondary schools was championed by a non-governmental organization under the aegis of the Voice of the Ijaw Girl Child, founded by Mrs. Timipre Tobi Ebiringa.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony for the school-based gender and inclusion clubs for adolescents in Yenagoa, Dr. Emelah, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Simon-Peter Okene, commended the NGO for introducing the project.
Further addressing the gathering, the commissioner lamented the cultural biases still affecting society, emphasizing that the benefits of gender equality cannot be overstated, particularly the need to promote girls’ education. He noted that some individuals still cling to the misguided belief that educating the girl child is a waste of resources.
Dr. Emelah also urged the organization to extend its campaign to the rural areas, which are most adversely affected by these negative attitudes.
The founder of the initiative, Mrs. Ebiringa, in her address, called for collaborative efforts to combat the societal norms of gender imbalance and inequality. She emphasized that if given the necessary opportunities and support, the girl child can achieve any height in life, even surpassing her male counterparts, as long as God graces her.
She called on the government and other well-meaning individuals to partner with her organization to positively impact society by curbing drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, child marriage, pre-marital sex, and other social issues.
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Other speakers at the event included the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development, represented by Mrs. Idumangi T.; the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Girl Child Development, Hon. Helen Bob; Ambassador Princess Egbe, founder of GLOBAL CARE RESCUE MISSION; and Dr. Mrs. Felicia Welson, a guidance counselor who discussed various issues related to the development of the girl child.
A highlight of the event was the inauguration of the school-based gender and inclusion clubs for adolescents, conducted by the Honourable Commissioner for Education in Bayelsa State, aimed at empowering young people to become gender-aware and strengthen inclusive development.
Schools in attendance included Saint Jude’s Girls Model Secondary School Amarata; Federal Government Girls College, Imiringi; Ayakpo Group of Schools; and Central Epie Secondary School, Opol.
Others present were Government Science and Technical College Okaka; Foundation Secondary Schools, Okutukutu; and Community Secondary School, Kpansia, among others.
