MINISTER LAMENTS GIRL-CHILD DISCRIMINATION

MINISTER LAMENTS GIRL-CHILD DISCRIMINATION
Patrick Osadebamwen

Girl child has been described as the most vulnerable in the Nigerian society inspite of the various laws that seek to protect the children, including the girl child from all forms of discrimination.
Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Salamt suleiman who was represented by Mrs Christiana Oliko said this at a book launch in Abuja. She added that the vulnerability of the girl child was predicated on various discrimnatory practices from birth through childhood and adulthood.
She said that available statistics indicated that “male child preference syndrome, early marriage, poverty traditional, religious and cultural barriers have contributed to low female enrolment and high drop out rates for girls in Nigeria”
The ministers position was supported by the book entitled: “Promoting the Girl Child” as it blames women lack of proportional representation at the level of decision making in the country to illiteracy, financial constriants, domestic burden and men domination.
Mrs. Suleiman commended the Author Engr. Waheed Odetoro whonm she said directed his great talent at providing the Nigerians with educative and resource materials pointed out that the time was now for Nigerians to redouble their efforts to address the various challenges militating against the development of the girl child.
She noted that this was important if the country must meet the gender parity in education by the 2015 as well as attaining the Universal Basic Education target.
The author of the book, Engineer Waheed Odetoro said Promoting the Girl Child is a book intended to strenghten the girl child to have access to information and they should not keep quite over things tha affects them.
He said that the book adds a voice to the challenge of women and provide data on gender deprivation abuse, date-rape, family rape which he said was the most unfortunate situation where a daughter is abused by a family member.