… Aiyedatiwa’s administration selects student ambassadors to promote girls’ rights, education
The Ondo State Government has launched a Girl Child Ambassador Initiative to strengthen the protection of girls’ rights, discourage child marriage and sexual exploitation, and promote education and personal safety among adolescents.
The initiative, unveiled as part of activities marking the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, will see selected secondary school students trained to educate their peers on the importance of protecting girls from harmful practices and making informed decisions.
At the event held on Tuesday, October 13, at the auditorium of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, 80 schools were represented in the selection of student ambassadors, with two students chosen from each school to champion the campaign.
Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Igbekele Ajibefun, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to policies and programmes that promote the welfare, education, safety and empowerment of girls in the state.
He described the International Day of the Girl Child as an opportunity to recognise the importance of girls in society and renew collective commitments to their education, protection and development.
The governor emphasised that education remained a vital tool for empowering girls, preparing them for leadership and equipping them with the knowledge and skills to achieve their aspirations.
He said his administration had invested in the education sector through infrastructure development, the provision of well-equipped laboratories and the recruitment of more than 2,000 teachers in the previous year.
Aiyedatiwa also identified scholarship programmes and the payment of West African Examinations Council (WAEC) registration fees for students as some of the government’s interventions to improve access to education.
He urged the students to remain focused on their studies and avoid distractions that could hinder their academic progress, stressing that quality education would prepare them for success in their chosen careers.
The governor encouraged girls to aspire to leadership positions in their respective fields, noting that they had the capacity to contribute meaningfully to governance, professional development and national growth.
He congratulated the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr Seun Bosede Osamaye, and her team for organising the programme.
Earlier, Osamaye commended the governor and his wife, Mrs Esther Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa, for their commitment to creating opportunities for girls to become confident, responsible and fulfilled women.
She explained that the initiative was designed to equip girls with the knowledge and confidence to defend their rights, establish personal boundaries and speak out against sexual exploitation, child marriage and other harmful practices.
According to her, the selected ambassadors would receive training and take the campaign to their respective schools and communities, promoting self-confidence, personal safety, positive values and respect for girls’ rights.
She said the programme was intended to extend the impact of the annual celebration beyond the event by ensuring that its messages reached young people across the state.
Osamaye stressed that every girl deserved access to quality education, adequate protection and equal opportunities to fulfil her potential without discrimination or exposure to harmful practices.
She noted that child marriage could deprive girls of educational opportunities and expose them to physical and emotional risks, urging them to speak out whenever they felt unsafe and seek assistance from trusted adults and relevant authorities.
The commissioner also advocated abstinence before marriage as part of the state’s values-based campaign, alongside education on body safety, personal boundaries, responsible decision-making and protection against sexual coercion and exploitation.
She called on parents, teachers, community leaders and other stakeholders to work together to create safe environments where girls could learn, grow and pursue their ambitions.
The initiative, she explained, is anchored on the 5 Paths Creed: My Voice, My Strength; My Body, My Asset; No to Sex Before Marriage; No to Child Marriage; and Yes to a Life of Purpose.
She charged the newly appointed ambassadors to lead by example and encourage their peers to make informed decisions and speak out against child marriage and sexual exploitation.
In her keynote address, Princess Linda Olabisi Adanri, who spoke on the theme, “Protecting and Empowering the Girl Child,” called for concerted action by government and other stakeholders to protect girls’ rights and expand opportunities for their development.
She identified discrimination, abuse, limited access to education and child marriage as some of the challenges confronting girls, insisting that every girl deserved a safe environment, quality education and the opportunity to realise her potential.
Adanri urged girls to express themselves confidently, report abuse and participate in decisions affecting their lives. She also called on parents and teachers to listen to their concerns, take them seriously and provide opportunities for them to develop leadership skills.
She encouraged the students to uphold their values, make responsible decisions and resist pressure or manipulation in relationships, noting that genuine love should be built on respect, trust and understanding.
Describing early marriage as a threat to girls’ education, independence, health and future opportunities, she urged the government to strengthen child protection systems and enforce relevant laws.
She also called on parents, traditional rulers, religious leaders and communities to reject harmful practices and support girls’ education.
Adanri encouraged the students to discover their talents, pursue their dreams and remain committed to their ambitions through education, discipline, confidence and determination.
In separate goodwill messages, the Chairmen of the Teaching Service Commission, Dr Daisi Olushola Oke, and the Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board, Princess Brown Ademulegun, described education as a powerful tool for preventing child marriage and empowering girls.
They observed that child marriage deprived girls of their childhood, disrupted their education, threatened their well-being and limited their future opportunities.
They called on government institutions, parents, traditional rulers, religious leaders and civil society organisations to work together to end child marriage and protect the fundamental rights of girls.
The education officials stressed that investing in girls’ education would strengthen families, promote prosperous communities and contribute to national development.
They urged parents to encourage their children to work hard towards achieving their ambitions, maintaining that girls belonged in classrooms rather than in early marriages.
Similarly, the Iralepo of Isikan, Oba Oluwagbenga Ojo, described girls as valuable contributors to the future of Ondo State and urged them to believe in their abilities.
He noted that girls could become governors, doctors, engineers, scientists and leaders in different fields if provided with the necessary education, support and opportunities.
The traditional ruler called on parents and the government to invest in girls’ education, protect them from abuse and ensure equal opportunities for them to realise their full potential.
He also urged the students to remain bold, disciplined and focused on their education, stressing the importance of protecting their dignity and self-respect.
Speaking on the 5 Paths Creed, the Speaker of the Third Ondo State Children’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Joy Poroye, addressed the theme “My Voice, My Strength,” while Comrade Janet Akindejoye spoke on “My Body, My Asset” and “Yes to a Life of Purpose.”
Pharm. Ojo, Head of Operations at APIN Public Health Initiatives, and Mrs Olabisi Omolona, Chief Executive Officer of Restoration of Dignity of Womanhood (ROTDOW), addressed the themes “No to Sex Before Marriage” and “No to Child Marriage,” respectively.
In his closing remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Senior High Chief Kayode Kolawole, expressed appreciation to Governor Aiyedatiwa and his wife for their commitment to the welfare of girls and women in the state.
He commended the governor for providing the leadership and direction that contributed to the successful organisation of the celebration.
Kolawole also appreciated the commissioner, relevant ministries and other stakeholders for their support, urging them to translate the messages of the celebration into practical actions that would improve the lives of girls across the state.
Other dignitaries at the event included the Director of Social Welfare, Mr Adebayo Oyegunwa; Director of Women Affairs, Mrs Folashade Oladiran; Director of Skill Acquisition, Mr Samuel Olumide; Director of Finance and Administration, Mrs Olaolu-Ikoto; Director of Planning and Research, Mr Sola Oladeji; and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Gender, Dr Ogunoye Fabuluje.
Also present were other government officials, women leaders, education stakeholders and representatives of civil society organisations.
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