The Bring Back Our Girls campaign
group (BBOG) yesterday joined other well meaning Nigerians to renew the
call for the release of the abducted Chibok girls who have been in
captivity for 180 days now.
The convener of BBOG, Prof. Oby Ezekwesili and Senator Florence Ita-Giwa made the call for the release of the girls at an event organised by the Public Affairs Department of the United States Consulate General’s office to mark the International Day of the Girl Child in Lagos.
Ezekwesili, said she cannot help put herself in the shoes of the missing girls. She noted that the pains of captivity can be better imagined as the over 200 girls are still out of place. “I just look at it and I say that only God knows what these girls are going through. That is why they need a voice, whether the people speaking out for them are ten or one million; the more the better for them. We must stand and insist that these girls are brought back, safe and alive.
“We do not know who these girls are going to be. They could be the ones that would solve our problems as a nation. So why should we give up on them?” she said.
She added that Nigerian must speak for the missing girls as their voices have been taken.
“It comes at a price. I have been pelted with insults, I’ve been maligned, but it doesn’t matter, because nothing any of us is going through can be compared to the plight of those girls.”
Ita-Giwa while speaking said the forum should serve as an opportunity to bring attention to the challenges facing girls around the world. She noted that the issue of the missing Chibok girls “has been a source of concern to everybody.
“I do wish and hope that soon, they will come back home. But as a mother, I cannot even think of what it would be like if it was any of my children that such a thing happened to”, she said.
The Executive Director, Women Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON) Mrs Bisi Olateru-Olagbegi, spoke on the need to end marginalisation of women and girls in the country.
She said the positive multiple effects of educating the girl child should not be overlooked by the society as gender disparity is still very much on in Nigeria. She urge for effort to celebrate the girl-child in the country.
The convener of BBOG, Prof. Oby Ezekwesili and Senator Florence Ita-Giwa made the call for the release of the girls at an event organised by the Public Affairs Department of the United States Consulate General’s office to mark the International Day of the Girl Child in Lagos.
Ezekwesili, said she cannot help put herself in the shoes of the missing girls. She noted that the pains of captivity can be better imagined as the over 200 girls are still out of place. “I just look at it and I say that only God knows what these girls are going through. That is why they need a voice, whether the people speaking out for them are ten or one million; the more the better for them. We must stand and insist that these girls are brought back, safe and alive.
“We do not know who these girls are going to be. They could be the ones that would solve our problems as a nation. So why should we give up on them?” she said.
She added that Nigerian must speak for the missing girls as their voices have been taken.
“It comes at a price. I have been pelted with insults, I’ve been maligned, but it doesn’t matter, because nothing any of us is going through can be compared to the plight of those girls.”
Ita-Giwa while speaking said the forum should serve as an opportunity to bring attention to the challenges facing girls around the world. She noted that the issue of the missing Chibok girls “has been a source of concern to everybody.
“I do wish and hope that soon, they will come back home. But as a mother, I cannot even think of what it would be like if it was any of my children that such a thing happened to”, she said.
The Executive Director, Women Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON) Mrs Bisi Olateru-Olagbegi, spoke on the need to end marginalisation of women and girls in the country.
She said the positive multiple effects of educating the girl child should not be overlooked by the society as gender disparity is still very much on in Nigeria. She urge for effort to celebrate the girl-child in the country.
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