Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for female children to realise their potential as future technocrats and business leaders.

Governor AbdulRazaq emphasised that by prioritising the development of the girl child, his government is paving the way for young women to use their skills and knowledge to contribute meaningfully to the nation's progress.

The Governor’s message was delivered by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Ahmed el-Imam, during the International Day of the Girl Child event, organised by the state Ministry of Women Affairs and held at Stella Multipurpose Centre, Ilorin.

He said the State enacted Child Right Law, Violence Against Persons and Prohibition (VAPP) and Gender Composition Law to ensure that children have compulsory education and get full protection against violence, molestation and discrimination.

AbdulRazaq assured that his administration is always ready to give support for female children to realize their ambition.

“Our government has created the enabling environment for our girls in the state to attain the vision of becoming good mothers, technocrats, public servants or business tycoons who would use their knowledge to put this great country on the pedestal of growth.

“The Child Right Law, Violence Against Persons and Prohibition (VAPP), Gender Composition Law, among others, are all in force to ensure that our children have compulsory education and as well get full protection against all forms of violence, molestation or discrimination.

“We have prosecuted a number of perpetrators of sexual assaults. Also, the two referral centres at both General and Sobi Specialist hospitals have treated a number of SGBV victims and as well provided psycho-social support for the victims,” the Governor said.

The state First Lady, First Lady, Amb. (Prof) Olufoluke AbdulRazaq, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Dr Afeez Alabi, expressed the commitment of her office to protect the rights of girl child in the state.

In her remarks, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Afolashade Kemi, said the essence of the event was to review the government’s support for the girl child and equally identify areas for improvement.

She, however, noted that the present administration had designed various policies and programmes for women empowerment and advancement of their careers in the state and beyond.

The Commissioner commended the Governor for apportioning appropriate portion of girl child representative in the state governance and encourage women participation in politics.

She applauded the state First Lady, Amb. (Prof) Olufoluke AbdulRazaq, for restoring integrity to girl child in the state through the 21 persons committee on sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV).

The commissioner noted that the committee has guaranteed the girl child rights protection and prosecutes the violators irrespective of whose ox is gored.