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Bridging leadership and digital literacy gaps: Ensuring girls are not left behind

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By Tobi Oyetunde

With the advent of ICTs and Artificial intelligence, it is no longer news that technological innovations now drive things. However, the gender inequality parity within the socio-economic domain is also found to exist within the scope and the dynamism of innovative use of information technology.

Thus, it was apt, that as part of efforts to commemorate the 2023 International Girls Day (IGD), that young girls in secondary schools were sensitised and made aware of the need to develop appropriate leadership and digital literacy skills so that they are relevant in the scheme of affairs. This was the underpinning objective of the Initiative for Social Impact and Sustainable Development (ISISD) at an interactive programme held for secondary school girls in Abeokuta, Ogun State, recently.

The interactive session, organised by ISISD with support from Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection (CEE-HOPE) and Innate Communications was centred around the IGD 2023 theme: “Invest in Girls Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being.”

ISISD Coordinator, Funmi Falobi, who was lead facilitator at the event noted that it was imperative to keep encouraging girls so that they are not left behind but motivated and mentored to exhibit potentials that would take them to the top.
“As girls and emerging women, you cannot afford to be pushed aside in the affairs of life, but you must strive to do your best to excel and showcase your potential for a better society”, she said, noting that the theme of the 2023 IGD served as a call for young girls to believe in themselves and brace up for leadership opportunities that would launch them to the global stage. She also challenged them to be digitally savvy in the world of technology that is changing the narratives around the world.

While looking at women who had proved their worth in business, governance, industries and career, Falobi enjoined the girls not to settle for less in life.
“For the fact that you are girls you are at a disadvantage, but despite the challenges facing girls, you must be motivated to be great in life. Women are doing great in various fields of endeavour including politics, so don’t let anything limit you. Don’t let anyone shut you down in achieving your goals,” she charged

Looking at the ancient city of Abeokuta and the impact of great women from the historic town in Nigeria in particular and Africa in general, the girls were enjoined not to be discouraged but weather the storm to be great.

“Ogun State has produced great women with great impact in Nigeria and Africa. It is important to learn from this. Face your studies, have role models and mentors and this will help you greatly in attaining your full potential in life. You are a leader, don’t let anyone look down on you or limit your vision,” Falobi said.

She also encouraged the girls to look into taking up career in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) saying, “this are areas girls don’t delve into. As the world is now a global village as a result of technology, it is important girls are not left behind but encouraged to take interest in digital literacy to bridge the gap.”

At the interactive programme, the girls explained that some of the challenges they face include inadequate parental attention, bullying, low self-esteem, lack of encouragement to pursue their goals among others. They however showed the interest to be great leaders to contribute their quotas in the society.

While commending the organisers for the programme, Mrs. Hannah Adeneye, Head, Vocational Department, Muslim High School, Abeokuta, said girls must not limit themselves but know that the world is waiting for their manifestation.

“There’s nothing boys are doing that you cannot do. They have enlightened us today and I want you to venture into the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics courses. Don’t limit yourself to feminine courses alone. We have women doing great in technology and we want to have more. And I’m sure you have made up your mind to be one of the greatest females in science oriented courses and be great leaders in life,” she advised.

Apart from the interactive session, sanitary pads and educational materials were distributed among the girls.

News brief

IGD2023: WSCIJ urges joint action to protect girls’ rights in Nigeria amid global concerns

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By sdnonline

Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) has called for joint action to protect the rights of girls in Nigeria.

Executive Director/CEO, WSCIJ, Motunrayo Alaka said the 2023 theme for the International Day of the Girl Child, ‘Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being,’ underscores the urgent need to increase investment in girls’ education, health, violence prevention programmes and overall well-being to protect their rights and support them to maximise leadership opportunities.

According to a 2022 UNICEF report, 6 million girls are out of school in Nigeria – 3.9 million at the primary and 3.7 million at the junior secondary levels, implying that over 50 percent of Nigerian girls are not attending school at the basic education levels. Despite the federal Child Rights Act (2003) prohibiting marriage below the age of 18 in Nigeria, 43 percent of teenage girls are married before their 18th birthday, and 16percent are married before the age of 15. Hence, Nigeria ranks among the highest on the African continent for early child marriage, according to the United Nations Development Programme in 2020.

This data validates a recent report from the United Nations – Secretary-General, António Guterres, who mentioned that the world is still 300 years away from ending child marriage and its ripple effect globally is 110 million young women and girls out of school and about 340 million girls and women will face extreme poverty by 2030. This alarming analysis is a clarion call for the media, government, CSOs and other stakeholders to intensify their efforts as champions of equality, equity and inclusivity to protect girls and women’s rights through nuanced investigative reportage, multilevel advocacy and timely sustainable interventions that defend the girl-child and protects her rights to live, learn and dream.

“At the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), we are dedicated to improving the reportage of girls and women-focused issues, empowering female journalists to champion the cause of equality in the news, newsroom and facilitate the evolution of gender policies and practices that affect girls and women representation as leaders. All these and more we continue to support with the Report Women! programme, initiated in 2014,” Alaka said.

She explained that the centre has trained and rewarded female journalists on leadership projects centred on women and girls empowerment. The programme has also produced documentaries and published research reports under the Report Women! Programme on the gender status of news and newsroom leadership, the gender policy and practice in Nigerian newsrooms and assessment of the Report Women! FRLP fellowship. With a forthcoming report on the representation of women in the leadership of news and newsrooms in Nigeria, the centre aims to contribute to a more inclusive media landscape.

“In the upcoming fourth quarter, WSCIJ will launch a website featuring 500 female expert sources across eight sectors, reflecting its commitment to amplifying the voices of women in news and news programmes. We urge everyone, particularly the journalists and media managers, to champion this cause within their spheres of influence, transcending traditional, economic, religious, social, and security-related challenges.

“Together, let us create a future where the rights of the girl child are protected, and opportunities for leadership and growth are accessible to all,” she said.