Abia gov backs campaign against girl-child abuse

Abia state Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has thrown his weight behind the advocacy for the protection of the rights of women and children, especially the girlchild.
The governor made this known yesterday when he received a delegation made up of a coalition of women and women’s group led by his wife, Nkechi Ikpeazu, at the Government House, Umuahia.
Ikpeazu, who pledged to assent to all progressive legislations that protect the rights of women and the girl-child once it gets to his desk, called on parents to be vigilant and monitor the activities of their children to prevent abuses by those entrusted to care for them.
“It is dangerous to leave a girlchild with people you can’t trust.
A defiled child is a destabilised child.
I enlist my support to this movement and all the legislations that protect our women and children against abuses will be assented to once they get to my table,” he said.
The governor urged women to be more vigilant, stating that most reported cases of molestation of the girl child were as a result of carelessness of mothers.
He acknowledged that being a 21st century mother “can be challenging,” but noted that the “African woman is well equipped for the challenge.” Reacting to the call for more women to be given elective positions, the governor encouraged women to rally round their own whenever they “come up for election and make bold statement through actions.” Earlier, in her remarks, the wife of governor, Nkechi Ikpeazu, said the support from the executive branch led by the governor would help to correct several anomalies that militate against the well-being of women and the girl-child.
“We had visited the House of Assembly, the Judiciary and the state police command on this mission to ensure that the rights of women and the girl child are respected.
“Our Advocacy visit to you today is part of a systematic effort at receiving commitment from stakeholders towards elimination of these right abuses,” she said.
(Premium Times)