Sunday September 4, 2022
Ondo State Deputy Governor, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa has urged Nigerians to approach girls’ education with positive determination.
He said training of the Girl child is crucial to Nigeria’s future, as that would point at the direction the Nation would take in charting a course for the development of the country.
Aiyedatiwa spoke while representing the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, at the closing ceremony of The BEMORE INITIATIVE SUMMER BOOT CAMP, held at the Federal University of Technology ( FUTA ), Akure on Saturday.
The Deputy Governor described the summer Boot Camp as awesome and Nigerian global standard setting event.
“Since it’s inception in 2017, BEMORE has trained over 2000 Nigerian girls from different parts of the Country, being the largest girls- only STEM+E boot camp in Africa”.
“The scheme bridges the broadening gap in STEM+E ( Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Entrepreneurship ) in Nigeria, thereby enriching participants with essential skills, competences and other pivotal life enhancing abilities towards attainment of their maximum potentials” , declared Aiyedatiwa .
“Girl child education promotes the development of management, communication, negotiation and critical thinking- that young people need to succeed and by implication closes skill gaps that perpetuate pay gaps, and build prosperity for entire the country and thus is the major preoccupation of the BEMORE initiative”.
He also said, “investing in girls’ child education transforms communities, countries and the entire world” .
“Girls education strengthens economies and reduce inequalities…it contributes to more stable, resilient societies that give all individuals including boys and men the opportunity to fulfill their potentials”, he added.
While thanking Ondo State first Lady, Her Excellency Chief ( Mrs ) Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu who is the founder and initiator of BEMORE Summer Boot Camp, the Deputy Governor said humanity owes her a debt of gratitude for her giant strides at ensuring girl-child education and improving human capital development in Ondo State, Nigeria and the global community.
He acknowledged her sense of devotion, duty and compassion as a voice in girl-child education.
He equally charged the 388 beneficiaries to take charge of their individual destiny by seizing the opportunity offered by the Summer Boot Camp.
Chairman of the event, Dr Jimoh Ibrahim CFR was delighted with the BEMORE initiative.
He said having the right skill set and knowledge would assist the graduants in fostering growth in their career pursuits .
While the Special Guest of Honour and Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Senator ( Dr ) ‘Olorunimbe Mamora noted that the BEMORE challenge was necessary in this part of the world due to the disadvantage female gender encountered in the society.
He commended Bemore initiator for promoting girls’ interest in Science Technology and Mathematics ( STEM ) which he described as the bedrock for Industrialization.
In her farewell speech, Her Excellency, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu declared thus, “it is your own turn to rule the world” .
“Tell yourself that you’re going to rule the world ! , tell yourself that I can be whatever I want to be! thank goodness, you already have your vision boards well drawn, keep it to heart and go for it, it is possible”, she charged them.
Continued, the Digital Mama disclosed that, “as you go, note that Bemore now has a homestead for us all as a family, a new permanent site at Emure-Ile, near Owo, Ondo State as our own Jerusalem, and we are committed to build it to our taste and make it a home to Bemore Alumni and upcoming generations of Bemore” .
