Interns of WigRadio.com and Media Career Development Network (MCDN), participating in an exchange programme have commemorated the 2023 edition of the International Day of the Girl Child, advocating for equality and rights of the girl child.
The exchange program in its second phase was held at the studio of Wisdom Gate Radio also known as WiGRadio in Alimosho, Lagos.
Interns of both organisations spoke on a live programme on International Day during which they shared their experiences.
Executive Director of MCDN, Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin and the Executive Director of WigRadio Media, Mr. Olawale Perfect, addressed the interns on how they can maximize the opportunities they have presently. They also advised them on the possible setbacks they may face and how they can overcome them.
Otufodunrin said parents shouldn’t limit the rights of a female because she’s a female thereby depriving her of her basic rights like access to education.
“Everyone child should be given equal rights regardless of gender,” he said.
Mr. Dayo Emmanuel, the Programme Manager for MCDN also addressed the interns on the importance of building relationships, and not to be in a hurry to leave their place of primary assignment without making a mark.
Emmanuel highlighted the importance of networking and urged interns to always be social as it may serve a useful purpose for them in the future.
The live programme was anchored by Ani Kelvin, an Intern at WigRadio Media, was very interactive and interns aired their respective opinions about the significance of the day.
There were mixed opinions about the question asked on whether the girl child is getting enough attention that she deserves in the family, society, organisations and even the country at large.
Emurie Cordelia, an intern at WigRadio, said as a female child in her family she gets little or no attention at all but attention is mostly given to the male children.
Osara Anita who is also an intern at WigRadio Media said, “Girls are given attention but it is not enough,” therefore she is asking for more attention to be placed on the different aspects of a girl’s life.
Various family problems were highlighted about gender inequalities in the home where more responsibility is heaped on the female gender, rather than letting both genders be responsible for chores.
Sharing her experience, an intern from MCDN, Idowu Opeyemi said there’s gender equality in her family house and everyone is responsible for any chores.
“A visitor who visited us saw my elder brother doing the dishes and complained, but my parents insisted that a gender shouldn’t be preferentially treated and every gender should be responsible for every chore,” Opeyemi recalled.
Ladies in the studio clamoured for family, society and organisations to give ladies equal rights to do what they want to do and not subject them to cultural biases.
