By: Mandy Willy
A university don, Dr. Anuli Ogbuagu, has called on society to create more opportunities for the girl child to realize her full potential.
Dr. Ogbuagu, an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Port Harcourt, made the call in Port Harcourt during an event organized to mark the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child.
She expressed gratitude to the Mother of Good Counsel Initiative for decorating her as one of 14 role models during the NGO’s 14th anniversary celebration.
Reflecting on the plight of Nigerian girls, Dr. Ogbuagu recalled the abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, on April 14, 2014. “As of 2023, 98 of those girls remain in captivity some married off, others disabled. That is the lot of the girl child,” she lamented.
She noted that despite numerous laws, policies, and interventions such as the Child Rights Act and the work of agencies like the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the challenges facing the girl child persist.
Dr. Ogbuagu stressed the need for a collective effort involving families, religious institutions, and the wider society to end abuses such as rape, trafficking, early marriage, and prostitution.
She urged parents and guardians to invest time, money, and energy in imparting good values to their children, describing education as a vital tool for transmitting knowledge, culture, and tradition.
“To the generation of young women leaders, I enjoin you to be vigilant, stay smart, protect your dreams, and remain intentional about your goals. We can flourish despite all odds if we adopt the right attitude and remain alert to what goes on around us,” she said.
Quoting Abigail Van Buren and Dolly Parton, Dr. Ogbuagu encouraged young girls to persevere in the face of adversity, emphasizing that a bad attitude is like a flat tyre you can go nowhere with it.
Earlier, the founder of Mother of Good Counsel Initiative, Dr. Doris Onyeneke, thanked God and supporters of the organization for sustaining its vision over 14 years to support vulnerable girls. She announced plans to establish a resource center to empower and accommodate young girls.
Some of the students who attended the event expressed hope and gratitude for the opportunity to learn and be inspired.
Our correspondent reports that various items, including sanitary pads, detergents, and writing materials, were distributed free to pupils and students present at the event.
