A WhatsApp Group specifically named International Day of the Girl Child created in 2020 by Mr Babatunde Ola Sanyaolu had an online celebration of the 2023 International Day of the Girl Child. Guided by the theme, Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being, members interacted through articles, poems and comments. The postings were beautifully adorned with flowers of various shapes and hues.
In a brief he posted in preparation for the Day, Mr Sanyaolu said that:
“The United Nations came up with the International Women’s Day and the International Day of the Girl Child to consciously fight against the sociocultural stereotypes of gender abuse and gender discrimination against the female gender across the globe. Equitable humane treatment of the female gender, not superiority over the male gender, is the centrepiece of the advocacy.
“One striking point is that the celebrations of Women’s and Girls’ Days have brought both girls and boys together in a win-win situation. Boys had actively participated in the celebrations, and this had resultantly led to constructive collaborations and mutual gender courtesy.”
Contents of articles and poems posted and responded to by members of the Group related to the theme of the Day. The poems were composed by members specially for the Day. The language of the articles and the poetic devices used by the writers vividly conveyed the message of the theme and enriched the writers’ presentations.
Articles and poems were from Mrs Grace Afanu, Mrs Mutiat Sadiq, Mrs Titi Aderibigbe, Mrs Olusakin, Mrs Funke Madandola, Sister Anita Okoeko, Mrs Yemisi Aina, Sister Adijat Akinyode, Mrs Tosin Obadimu, Mrs Iyabo Akintola, Sister Inioluwa Sanyaolu (Techsters Volunteer), Mr Mark Desmond, Sister Aminat Olaiya (Techsters Associate), Sister Victoria Abiogba, Mrs Tolani Akisola, Sister Gift Great, Mrs Lara Agbabiaka, Brother Erioluwa Sanyaolu (Techsters Volunteer), Mrs Temilayo Adeyemi, Sister Toheebat Akintoye and Mr Tunde Sanyaolu.
Earlier in the year, on March 4, the Group had celebrated the International Women’s Day tagged Embracing Gender Equity. Goodwill messages were delivered by Mrs Bamidele Makinde, Director of Education in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Abeokuta, and Professor Funmi Olubode-Sawe of the Federal University of Technology, Akure. Papers were presented by Dr Tope Olaifa of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, and Dr Kafayat Adetunji of Lagos State University, Ojo.
