Girls’ advocates have decried the high level of illiteracy among youngsters in Nigeria due to lack of education, especially at the basic levels.
The revaluation was made on Thursday at the opening of the 20th Outreach of the August Girls’ Assembly (AGA), one of the largest gatherings of girls in Ibadan, Oyo State, organized by Worth-in-Womanhood arm of Vine Branch Church Ministry.
The convener of AGA, Pastor Bridget Kolade, urged the government to legislate compulsory education for every Nigerian from primary level to JSS 1 to address the growing concern.
She said, there are no alternatives to education for both boys and girls.
“Education is what we owe the Nigerian child. It is a robbery of destiny to deny a child education.
“The government, knowing what education was, should make laws that would enforce education at least, basic education from primary to JSS 1, should be a must and should be legislated.
“I believe that is where we should start because we are just breeding problems for tomorrow if we take our eyes off education,” Kolade asserted.
She said whatever it will cost the nation to pay as the price to get our children educated we must pay.
Similarly, Mrs Gbonjubola Owolabi, Provost, Oyo State College of Nursing and Midwifery, Eleyele, Ibadan, during her address charged participants to be focused and never be discouraged in life.
“Life is a journey and we don’t know what is in it for us but we have a God who cares for us and we are not going to be discouraged but we will keep at it. Read your Bible, stand on God’s word and pray until something happens,” she stated.
Owolabi stated that the world is changing and children nowadays are faced with challenges associated with technology and social media.
“We have to continue to mentor them and encourage them in the way of the Lord because of moral decadence.
“All hands must be on deck and all stakeholders must get serious to ensure that the younger generation finds their feet to surmount the challenges of their days and build a bright future,” the provost said.
