A non-governmental organisation, Value Female Network, has pledged to empower over 500 adolescent girls on how to navigate the rigour of life while growing up during its annual boot camp programme.
The boot camp, which commenced on September 11, will end on Friday, September 15, 2023.
The participants drawn from Osun, Ekiti, Kwara, Kano, Kaduna and Oyo states will be trained on digital skills, sexual and reproductive health, and female genital mutilation.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Executive Director of the organisation, Dr Abosede Aderigbigbe-Saba admonished the participants to learn from the over one hundred volunteers and make the boot camp experience worthwhile.
Aderibigbe while speaking on this year’s theme, ‘Breaking Barrier and Building Bridges,’ noted that it is important to train the minds of the girls at their adolescent stage on some of the things to expect in life and the importance of believing in themselves.
She stated that the organisation will follow up with the participants after the programme to see how they are incorporating what they learn during the next four days.
She appreciated their supporters for making the boot camp a success, calling on well-meaning individuals to partner with the organisation.
“We started the programme yesterday, September 11 and it will be closing on Friday, September 15. I want to admonish our admirable participants to utilise this opportunity and learn from all the volunteers.
“We want our adolescent girls to know they can break barriers and build bridges through believing in themselves. The next four days should be a memorable one for them and we will make sure we follow up with them after this program.
“I want to appreciate the governor of the state and also our donors for the support to make this a reality”.
Declaring the camp open, the state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, said the theme of the programme encapsulates what the state hoped to achieve in the coming days.
Adeleke, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Children Welfare, appreciated the organisers for their dedication to the course of female empowerment and development of our youths.
He urged the participants to leverage the opportunity to gain value from the volunteers.
“Let me express my profound gratitude to this able organisation for their dedication to the course of female empowerment and development of our youths,” he said.
In her goodwill message, the representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Mrs. Nzoma Ayodeji, urged the participants to participate actively during the programme.
