President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has restated the need for the Federal Government to ensure the protection and empowerment of the girl child in Nigeria.
The Yobe Senator echoed this on Tuesday in his remarks in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child.
He said efforts must be made by the government at all levels to prioritize the protection of the girl child from violence, rape and all forms of discrimination.
Lawan stated that girls have been deprived of equal opportunities needed to propel them to leadership positions.
The head of the National Assembly noted that the country is in a situation where girls must be shielded from violence.
“Our country and society must continue to support the girls in the area of educating and empowering them, and giving them all the available opportunities for them to actualize their potentials like the boys are given.
“Today, we have only seven female senators. This kind of situation can be corrected right from the early stages when the girl-child is given all the opportunities. We hope that one day, this chamber should have fifty percent of Senators being female.
“We need to improve on this as a country by giving our girls the needed empowerment and skills that will propel them to become leaders in the future, and the country will be better for it,” the Senate President said.
