In commemoration of the International Day for the Girl Child marked earlier this week, the Oyo State First Lady, Her Excellency, Engr. (Mrs.) Tamunominini Makinde in partnership with Kimberly Clark, producer of Kotex sanitary pad on Wednesday, 14th October, 2020 organized a sensitization program for the girl child in Oyo state.

Mrs Makinde advised young girls to take education and hygiene very seriously, stay away from premarital sex and abortion, and to take the COVID-19 precautions avoid precaution.

In her words “Pay close attention to your education, health and safety, so that you can have a strong voice and a bright future”.

She urged them to avoid unhealthy peer groups, listen to parents, teachers and care givers as they offer life saving experience and knowledge.

She emphasized on the need for sound education, good medical care and protection from abuse for the girl child as this will provide the girl child with skills, information and self-confidence.

Speaking on the theme for this year’s International Day for Girl Child, “My voice, Our equal future,” the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Barrister Olasunkemi Aremu Olaleye said using the UNESCO’s statistics analysis, that the percentage of girl child that are deprived of education as well as the female child who are being abused.

He further encouraged the state and county to tackle the peculiarity of confining the female gender to the kitchen and the other room.

The programme was quite interesting as educative talks on puberty, menstrual cycles, personal hygiene, and health in general was rendered to the students by Kotex spoke persons.

Speaking with CEOAFRICA, Regional Manager of Kotex, Farouk Oladepo expressed his joy at being part of the event adding that it had been educative as well as interesting as the education and well being of the girl child is a concern to all.

“Kotex has been a part of this event in conjunction with the office of the First Lady to make this exposure to hygiene practices and other products and services that Kotex has to offer in helping children achieve the best of life”

The event was graced by the following dignitaries; Oyo state first Lady, Her Excellency Engr. Mrs. Tamunominini Makinde, the commissioner for health, Hon. Ladi Bello, permanent secretary of education, science and technology, Alhaja Aminat Atere, among others.

There were also over fifty schools among which are, Our Lady of Apostle Grammar School, Ogbomosho Girls High School, Methodist Grammar School, Community High School, Queens School others.

Various activities like song presentation and educative dramas were performed by the students to spice the event.

The girls were evidently happy as they received special packages from Kotex.