Ademola Olonilua (aolonilua@punchng.com)
Popular singer Nikky Laoye in a chat with Saturday Beats has aired her opinion on the recent abduction and eventual release of the Dapchi schoolgirls in Yobe State.
According to the singer, the recent trend of terrorists abducting school girls would only have an adverse effect on the education of the girl-child in north and Nigeria as a whole.
“These abductions are definitely a huge cause for concern and worry for the safety of the children out there in school. Most parents would soon cower in fear and refuse to send their girls to school and this would affect the girl child education which is already a big struggle up north.
“The schools and their environs need to be kept under constant protection by security forces while this insurgence situation should be put under control,” she said.
The ABC singer expressed joy over the safe return of the kidnapped schoolgirls but also raised some posers for the government.
“I just thank God that they have been returned home to their parents safe and sound. But on the other hand, there are definitely a lot of questions regarding this development: How was their release achieved? Will these abductions happen again? May God keep all these children safe out there,” the singer said.
She added that the girl child in Nigeria ought to be given the same chance as their male counterparts. “What is really needed in our country today is a change of attitude towards the girl child. Girls must be given the same opportunities and protection as boys because they have the right to develop and participate in decisions that impact their lives. A girl child is a gift to her society, a life giver in the making and she should be nurtured and cherished. The girl child is particularly vulnerable to certain human rights violations and therefore requires additional protections by the government. The government needs to constantly ensure that they have direct access to good education, health care and growth opportunities across Nigeria,” Laoye said.
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source http://punchng.com/niki-laoye-celebrates-dapchi-girls-return-rues-frequent-abduction/
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