As Nigerians marked this year’s Democracy Day celebrations, Ambassador for Women and Girls, Hon. Ambassador Lilian Adoyi Ofiebor, has called for renewed commitment to girl-child education as a critical pillar for strengthening democracy and national development.
In a Democracy Day message shared on her official Facebook page, the convener of the BOOKs Before BOYs Initiative stressed that democracy extends beyond periodic elections and should be reflected in the opportunities available to citizens, especially young girls.
According to her, “Democracy is not measured solely by elections; it is measured by the quality of life of the people, the opportunities available to the youth, and the protection of the most vulnerable members of society.”
Amb. Adoyi expressed concern over what she described as the increasing rate of teenage girls being drawn into prostitution, substance abuse, criminal activities, and other social vices, warning that such trends represent collective societal failures that threaten the future of communities and the nation at large.
She noted that as an advocate for women and girls, remaining silent in the face of these challenges would amount to abandoning a generation of young girls with enormous potential to become leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and agents of positive change.
The women advocate urged parents, educators, community leaders, religious institutions, government agencies, and civil society organisations to work together to protect and empower girls through education and mentorship.
Explaining the vision behind her initiative, she said the BOOKs Before BOYs Initiative was designed to encourage girls to prioritise education, leadership, self-development, and purpose over distractions capable of derailing their future aspirations.
“The message is not against healthy relationships; rather, it is a call for young girls to understand that education is the foundation upon which lasting success is built,” she stated.
Amb. Adoyi highlighted the far-reaching benefits of educating girls, including poverty reduction, lower rates of child marriage and teenage pregnancy, improved family well-being, increased civic participation, stronger economies, and more stable societies.
Addressing young girls in Ohimini and beyond, she encouraged them to focus on personal growth and educational attainment.
“Your worth is not determined by social media validation, material gifts, or pressure from peers. Your greatest investment today is your education, your character, your skills, and your vision for the future,” she advised.
She further assured that the BOOKs Before BOYs Initiative would continue providing mentorship, counselling, educational materials, menstrual health support, and leadership development opportunities to girls in communities across Benue State.
The Ambassador also called on governments at all levels, traditional institutions, development partners, and community stakeholders to invest intentionally in girl-child education, describing every scholarship awarded and every girl kept in school as an investment in democracy, peace, and national development.
“A nation cannot rise above the quality of its women, and the quality of its women depends largely on the education and opportunities they receive,” she added.
She concluded by urging Nigerians to build a society where every girl is protected, educated, empowered, and given the opportunity to succeed.
“Together, we can raise a generation of informed, confident, and responsible young women who will contribute meaningfully to the development of Ohimini, Benue State, and Nigeria.”
She ended her message with a stirring call:
“Educate a Girl. Strengthen Democracy. Build the Nation.”
Ambassador Lilian Adoyi Ofiebor is the Ambassador for Women and Girls Speak and founder of the BOOKs Before BOYs Initiative, a programme dedicated to promoting literacy, mentorship, menstrual health awareness, and leadership development among young girls.
— Yellopagenews.com
