No fewer than 70 girls were empowered with laptops and home solar systems in Ibadan on Saturday, courtesy of BEMORE Empowered Girls Foundation.
The group’s founder and wife of former Ondo State Governor, Dr Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, empowered the girls at the close of the BEMORE Summer Bootcamp.
She urged them to judiciously utilise the items to make positive impact in their world.
She said that there was a connection between Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and poverty.
She stressed the need for girls to be empowered so they could be financially independent.
Anyanwu-Akeredolu enjoined women to be concerned and work towards eliminating what she called “feminised poverty” that bred violence at home and on the streets.
She reiterated the importance of aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by UN member states in 2015.
“At the heart of these 17 SDGs is an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership.
“They recognised that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand in hand with strategies that improve health and education.
“They reduce inequality and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forest,” she said.
Anyanwu-Akeredolu decried low awareness and programmes on SDGs despite their having offices and people appointed to man the offices.
“In BEMORE, we understand the role of SDGs and the benefits accruable, if it can be implemented.
“That is why SDGs are like a jingle in BEMORE Summer Bootcamp since its inception in 2017,” she said.
The founder charged the participants of the 2024 BEMORE Oyo to step down the training to other girls, who were unable to attend.
Prof. Jacinta Okpara, Chairman of the occasion and Vice-Chancellor, Dominican University, charged the girls to put the training obtained into good use to contribute to the nation’s development.
“Remember you are the architect of your future and the world is full of opportunities.
“Based on the skills acquired here, there is no limit to what you can do,” Opara said.
The State Commissioner of Police, Sonubi Ayodele, represented by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Abayomi Akinpelu, commended the organiser of the programme.
He said that the programme was crucial to the nation’s development.
“Investing in youths is a strategic means of securing and engendering a bright future for the nation,” he said.
