By Anthonia Omenogoh Oshiniwe,
The International Day of the Girl is commemorated every October, 11 as declared by the United Nations. For 2021, the theme for the year is “Digital generation. Our generation.”
Introduction:
The pandemic has accelerated digital platforms for learning, earning, and connecting, research has shown that 2.2 billion people below the age of 25 still do not have internet access at home and girls are more likely to be cut off.
Description: Activity one:
An in-school program to sensitize students (girls) on the International Day of the Girl Child relating the Day with the Theme for the year and also using it as a medium to build their self-esteem.
The theme Digital Generation, Our Generation is very important and timely because our girls are being cut off from the tech world. And technology is a very important tool in putting an end to Female Genital Mutilation.
The activity had 3 different schools (all-girls schools) with a total of 85 students
- Queen Elizabeth School
- Government Girls Day Secondary School, Oko-Erin
- Government Girls Day Secondary School, Pakata.
The Facilitators include:
- Mr. Kayode Ishola is the CEO of a Tech School in Kwara State called KidTech Africa. He spoke about the importance of technology in our day-to-day life. He made emphasizes the need to have more girls in the school.
- Miss Ismael Saka Mariam is a coding expert who developed an interest in technology. Against the odds of the society she lives in she decided to do something different. She spoke about her challenges in her choosing career but she is motivated by women in the Tech society.
To make the event more meaningful, three students of KidsTech Africa were also present to discuss with their peers and encourage them. They spoke about the project they are running currently and the importance of such in our society. They encouraged the girls that the world is moving fast and girls must not be left behind.
The girls are:
Tomilola Abayomi is 12 years old and currently working on a python program to develop a project (search engine).
Opaleke Mosere who is 11 years old also running a python program to develop a project (Health Care Management)
Bakare Mariam also 12 years old running a python program to develop a project (Restaurant Management)
After discussion with the girls, it ignited the interest in the audience and the girls were motivated and wanted to be enrolled in the Tech School.
The Success story is that the school promised to give a 50% scholarship to the organisation for girls that showed interest.
Activity Two:
The second activity for the program was a Talk Show at the Nigerian Television Authority. The Talk Show had four participants with two participants per session. They discussed their activities in the Tech world and the projects they are working on presently.
They encouraged their peers out there to be determined to achieve whatever they aspired to be not to be stereotyped as female gender.
The guests on the Talk Show are:
- Abayomi Tomilola, 12years
- Opaleke Mosere, 11years
- Bakare Mariam, 12years
- Abdulquadri Mariam, 12years
Activity Three:
- A radio program at Royal FM, Ilorin to discuss Digital Generation and the importance of our girls achieving their desires.
- They were phone calls to discuss the limitation of girls to achieve the same and the possible solution to it.
- The tech world was also linked to ending FGM in Nigeria.
- The Success Story is that one of the girls is ready to start a project with a python Program to sensitize and advocate against FGM.
