By Cleopatra Eki
In an effort to strengthen the capacity of the Girl Child for Leadership in the society, Action Health Incorporated (AHI) in collaboration with Cummins and Rise Up has concluded a training program for girls on leadership and public advocacy skills in Lagos state.
Dr. Uwemedimo Uko Esiet, Co-Founder/Director AHI, Public Health Physician/Development Entrepreneur commending the 6O young girls who had undergone the leadership training and human rights advocacy for 8 weeks said the aim of the program is to girls who will in turn produce multiplier effects on their communities.
He was speaking at the closing ceremony of the event tagged ‘Girls Voice Scale-up project’ which held at the Wesley Girls Junior Secondary school Yaba Lagos.
According to him, Action Health Incorporated (AHI) platform with support Cummins have supported and trained Girl leaders’ to advance their advocacy through activities that will advance the equity and equality issues, girls’ rights, adolescent health and wellbeing.
The platform enables the girls leaders to know their human rights, rights to education, rights to say No, rights to decision- making and rights to life. It helps the girls to unleash their potentials and be better citizens. The project timeline runs from January- March 2022.
Among the activities implemented were Planning meeting with Girls leaders on school sensitization and mentoring activities , Girl-led mentoring and leadership sessions as well as menstrual hygiene management session with adolescent girls in Wesley Girls Junior Secondary School Project .
Dr Esiet said: “We work with young girls, parents, leaders, youth-serving organizations, government agencies and policymakers to design and implement innovative and participatory projects in education, healthcare and youth development, providing models that have been adopted and expanded by government and other civil society organizations.
“We have worked with different groups of girls have different sections and programmes where we have trained both genders to be better citizens of our country.”
He disclosed that UNESCO and AHI have recently concluded capacity building training for teachers to manage students.
”AHI has been doing several projects for schools over 2 decades. Besides, AHI organizes Teenage festival of Life another platform for self expression, deep concerns and expectations of youth and proffering solutions to their plights.”
AHI over the years has worked with young people, parents, community opinion leaders, youth-serving organizations, government agencies and policy makers to design and implement innovative and participatory projects in education, healthcare and youth development, providing models that have been adopted and expanded by government and other civil society organizations.
Victoria Benedict, a girl leader and facilitator spoke on impact training of girls and narrated how AHI and the groups have assisted them know their human rights to appreciate classes control and respect for their teachers who can manage a class of 7O students and improve mental and environmental sanity.
The girl leaders led mentoring and leadership training for in-school adolescent girls in Wesley Girls Junior Secondary School in Lagos State Education District IV for one school term. These Girl Forum (mentoring and leadership) sessions was held twice a week and serve as a platform to influence on life skills and social networks of in-school adolescent girls.
The Girl Leaders carried out series of sensitization activities on Life Skills such as self-awareness, negotiation, goal setting, decision-making and leadership to plan for their future.
The overall goal of the project is to strengthen Girls-led advocacy efforts in equity, equality, rights, education, health and wellbeing of girls in State. Benedict disclosed that girls leadership training, promote volunteering and life skills to better themselves and society.
Mrs Fashiru, Principal Wesley Girls junior School applauded AHI for all her kind gestures and project for supporting the schools over the years.
“We are grateful to Action Health Incorporated (AHI) a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting opportunities for young people’s health and development to ensure their successful transition to healthy and productive adulthood”.We are grateful -Fashiru acknowledged.
There were different presentations by the girls through spoken words ,drama, cultural dance , singing among others. The students groups were given valuable gifts based on their various billiant performances by AHI and Cummins. A cheque N50,000 was also donated the school by AHl.
