The Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) advocacy group yesterday joined other well-meaning Nigerians to renew the call for the release of the 219 Chibok girls, who are still in captivity 180 days after they were abducted by Boko Haram gunmen.
A co-convener of the group and former Education Minister, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili and Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, made the call for the release of the girls at an event organised by the Public Affairs Department of the United States Consulate General’s office to mark the International Day of the Girl Child yesterday in Lagos.
Ezekwesili said she cannot help put herself in the shoes of the missing girls, noting that the pains of captivity can be better imagined as the over 200 girls are still out there.
“I just look at it and I say that only God knows what these girls are going through. That is why they need a voice, whether the people speaking out for them are ten or one million; the more the better for them. We must stand and insist that these girls are brought back, safe and alive.
“We do not know who these girls are going to be. They could be the ones that would solve our problems as a nation. So why should we give up on them?” she said.
Mrs. Ezekwesili added that Nigerians must speak for the missing girls as their voices have been taken.
“It comes at a price. I have been pelted with insults, I’ve been maligned, but it doesn’t matter, because nothing any of us is going through can be compared to the plight of those girls”.
In her remarks, Ita-Giwa said the forum should serve as an opportunity to bring attention to the challenges facing girls around the world. She also noted that the issue of the missing Chibok girls “has been a source of concern to everybody.
“I do wish and hope that soon, they will come back home. But as a mother, I cannot even think of what it would be like if it was any of my children that such a thing happened to”, she said.
The Executive Director, Women Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON) Mrs Bisi Olateru-Olagbegi, spoke on the need to end marginalisation of women and girls in the country.
According to her, the positive multiple effects of educating the girl child should not be overlooked by the society as gender disparity is still existing in Nigeria. She also called for concerted efforts to celebrate the girl-child in the country.
