The Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dr. Abubakar Y. Suleiman has called on parents to always stand firm to support girls child as the future leaders on their quest towards greatness.
He made the call on Thursday, in Bauchi at an event organized by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) office of the Director Travels and Exchange, National Affairs.
“When I received your invitation, the first thing that came to my mind was that my crowded schedules for the week could not allow me to attend coupled with short notice you gave me. But when I saw the topic of the programme, I instantly agreed that I must personally be here. The topic of the programme directly caught my attention, because as a Law maker, I personally sponsored a Bill on gender base violence which was passed by the 9th Bauchi State House of Assembly and assented to by His Excellency, the Governor of Bauchi State”. The Speaker said.
He further said that “today, the Law is part of our Criminal Laws in Bauchi State which is referred to as the VAPP Law. Selection of this topic for discussion at this forum is very apt and will be another eye opener for our society and communities to see reasons on the need to empower the girl child through education and maximum protection against any form of abuse for a prosperous society. It is worthy to note that when you educate a girl child, you educate a nation because a mother is the first school that every child goes through before becoming useful member of society”.
He emphasized that building a well disciplined family and crime-free society begins with a highly informed and educationally sound girl child. He therefore encouraged students as future leaders and parents to always stand firm in support and promotion of girl child in communities. The Speaker motivated them that they should never give up in actualising their dreams no matter the level of threat, blackmail, intimidation, harassment or provocative tendencies. Interestingly, the VAPP Law which he sponsored has been replicated in over 26 States in Nigeria, currently he is pursuing PhD and researching in the area of Gender Based Violence at Bauchi State University.
Suleiman assured that as Legislators, they would continue to enact Laws that would empower youth and girl child in the State and country as a whole. He maintained that success and prosperity of any generation is base on the legacies left to it’s younger ones, he then commended organizers of the programme and urged them to continue impacting till the negative perception against girl child is completely transformed for a better.