FIDA wants more women in leadership positions for girl- child reforms

THE International Federation of Women Lawyers ( FIDA) has called for the involvement of more women in leadership positions to address educationrelated issues.

It said having more women in education related matters would be an opportunity to address the crisis in learning for not only the girl- child but also the boy- child.

This, according to the group, would also facilitate equal representation and the breakdown of gender barriers in policy making.

Deputy Vice- Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, University of Ibadan, Prof. Oluyemisi Bamgbose, said this during the opening ceremony of FIDA Lagos Branch Yearly Law Week, where she spoke on ‘ Education as a Catalyst for Boosting the Self- Image of the African Child.’

According to her, the barriers cannot be broken effectively when women are not involved in decision making processes or are left out of policy determinant positions.

Bamgbose, who is also the Chairperson, Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum ( NBAWF), called for mentoring programmes to encourage the girl- child to remain in school, stressing that mentoring programmes would encourage and give the girlchild confidence to stay in school, achieve excellence and pursue higher degree qualifications.

Noting that educating the girl- child was the best investment for societal development, she added that it was imperative to invest in education to improve not only the self- image of a child but the image of Africa as a whole.

Similarly, Chairman, FIDA Lagos Law Week opening ceremony, Tunde Busari, called on those in authority to wake up and revive the educational system.

He said they should work to improve the educational sector in Nigeria so that the African and Nigerian child can occupy his pride of place.

“There must be concerted efforts to ensure that the African child is educated. Without it they don’t have a future,” he said.

Chairperson, FIDA Lagos, Chinwe Efobi, said the yearly programme is held in commemoration of the United Nations 2022 International Day of the African Child.