NGO Empowers Over 600 Adolescent Girls

A Non-Governmental Organisation, Value Female Network said it will empower over 600 adolescent girls on how to navigate the rigour of life while growing up during its annual boot camp program.

The boot camp which commences yesterday, September 11, will end on Friday, September 15.

The participants drawn from Osun, Ekiti, Kwara, Kano, Kaduna and Oyo states will be trained on digital skills, sexual and reproductive health, and female genital mutilation, entrepreneurship and other life skills.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Executive Director of the organisation, Dr Costly Aderigbigbe-Saba admonished the participants to learn from the over one hundred volunteers and make the boot camp experience worthwhile.

Dr Costly while speaking on this year’s theme, ‘Breaking Barrier and Building Bridges’ noted that it is important to train the minds of the girls at their adolescent stage on some of the things to expect in life and the importance of believing in themselves.

She noted that the organisation will follow up with the participants after the programme to see how they are incorporating what they learn during the next four days.

She appreciated their supporters, UNFPA in particular, for making the boot camp a success, calling on well-meaning individuals to partner with the organisation.

“We started the program yesterday, September 11 and it will be closing on Friday, September 15. I want to admonish our admirable participants to utilise this opportunity and learn from all the volunteers.

“We want our adolescent girls to know they can break barriers and build bridges through believing in themselves. The next four days should be a memorable one for them and we will make sure we follow up with them after this program.

“I want to appreciate the governor of the state and also our donors for the support to make this a reality”.

Declaring the camp open, the Governor of the state, Senator Ademola Adeleke said the theme of the program encapsulates what the state hoped to achieve in the coming days.

Governor Adeleke who was represented by the state Commissioner For Women Affairs and Children Welfare, appreciated the organisers for their dedication to the course of female empowerment and development of our youths.

He urged the participants to leverage the opportunity to gain value from the volunteers.

“Let me express my profound gratitude to this able organisation for their dedication to the course of female empowerment and development of our youths.

“Your work is a vision of hope in our society and by that, we are really grateful. The theme of this year’s program encapsulates what we hope to achieve here in Osun over the coming days. It serves as a reminder that our young girls are builders of the nation.

“To the participants, adolescence is a transformative stage in the journey of life marked by potential in our young children. It is during this period that they define their career, explore their passion and lay foundation for their future endeavours. This is a great platform for you to learn from accomplished mentors.”

In her goodwill message, the representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Mrs. Nzoma Ayodeji, urged the participants to participate actively during the program.

“A lot of people wanted to be part of this program and you are blessed to be here. I want to urge you to participate actively so that you can catch the reason why you are here.

“When you go back to your various schools, you should also teach your friends what you learn from here to make sure they are also aware.”