Oyo Group Helps 100 Girls and Calls for an End to Child Marriage

(Oyo Map. Photo by The Guardian Nigeria News)

An NGO called the Oluwakemi Olusola Girl Child Foundation wants the Oyo State government to step up its fight against child marriage.

The group teamed up with Rainbow Gateway Foundation and Theresa Jacob Foundation to give 100 girls in an underserved part of Ibadan a big boost.

The event took place at Bola Mosque off St Stephen Church.

The girls got medical and eye checks, school bags, food, hygiene kits and counselling.

It was held to mark this year's International Day of the Girl Child under the theme End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls Rights.

Founder Oluwakemi Olusola said the project started three years ago as a yearly celebration.

It has since grown into a community program that meets real needs.

She said over N5 million has been spent, all funded by donors and not from her own pocket.

The counselling sessions give girls a safe place to talk about what they are going through, including abuse.

The group is now looking for partners to fund school scholarships for girls who dropped out and skills training for those who want a trade.

Some trainers have already offered to help.

Rainbow Gateway founder Ebunoluwa Akinwale said the goal is to fix years of neglect, when many girls were kept at home while boys went to school.

She urged parents to refuse child marriage and let girls finish school.

She also told families not to hide abuse or shield abusers because of family ties.

Other partners spoke too.

Folake Jacob of Theresa Jacob Heart Foundation said her team handled medical checks and taught the girls about sexual health and menstrual hygiene.

Chisom Mabia, whose group has trained about 10000 people over nine years, said lack of funding is the biggest problem.

Her team also taught the girls how to make reusable sanitary pads.

Toyin Odugbesan of Geo Meridian International said more agencies and groups need to join the effort.

She also pointed out that there is not enough data to show whether abuse cases are rising or falling.

The organisers say the girls will need follow up support to keep going with school and training after the event.