The Executive Director, FAME Foundation, Aderonke Bello, has urged the Federal Government to review the Child Rights Act 2003 to end gender stereotypes in girls.
Bello made the call in Abuja on Thursday while addressing journalists on the sidelines of a two-day workshop on the right of girls to education and equality, organised by FAME Foundation and partners.
According to her, updating the Act would also help in accommodating emerging issues relating to protection of children.
“The government needs to review the child rights act 2003, so it can accommodate more policies that will help the girl child in Nigeria. If the federal government is to do anything concerning the Child Rights Act to end stereotypes in Nigeria, especially in the girl child, the Child Rights Act needs to be edited,” she said.
Project Officer, Agence Francaise de Development (AFD), Elise Blaizot, said the states and the Federal Government must ensure children are safe and properly protected in schools.
She said: “Figures are here to tell us that, in today’s Nigeria, girls are facing incredible challenges related to their education that have a direct impact on their future.
“In response to that, the FAME Foundation is doing incredible work to answer those challenges mainly within the scope of sports. It is in that framework that the French Development Agency decided to collaborate with FAME in July 2021 around the project ‘Play it, Dream it’.
“This partnership focuses on girls between seven and 17 years old living in Internally Displaced People camps in Abuja. It is estimated that 40% of those young girls are out of school.”
Nigerian Actress turned politician Tonto Charity Dikeh, popularly known as Tontolet, said a lot of people attribute lack of education to poverty, “but the major lack of education comes from religion, culture and tradition.”
