The Ekiti State Commissioner for Education, Dr (Mrs) Olabimpe Aderiye, has urged children of school age in the state and Nigeria to embrace and acquire life skills in addition to their academic pursuits in preparation for the future.
Aderiye spoke alongside his Information counterpart, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun, in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, at the opening ceremony of the Safe Space Holiday Empowerment Boot Camp, which was organised by the education ministry in conjunction with the Adolescent Girls’ Initiative For Learning And Empowerment (AGILE).
No fewer than 101 female public secondary school students drawn from the 16 local governments of the state are selected for the weeklong training, which is powered by Yewande Adesanya’s coordinated AGILE supported by the World Bank and held at the transition home, Ado Ekiti.
Aderiye said leadership and other related skills will help the pupils navigate adulthood with little or no stress.
“This is part of what the government is doing to help the students build their confidence as they have the life skills to navigate adulthood without any fear and to know the difference between being assertive and being aggressive, humility and timidity.
“They come together to socialise and share experiences so that when they return to their communities, they can influence their peers and others.
“Most times, people are of the view that girls are more prone to attack than boys, but when they undergo training like this, they will know how to avoid dangerous situations and know what to do whenever they encounter problems.
“After garnering the knowledge, it will be easier for them to live in this world as if it is a work in the pack. There will always be problems, but they are built to challenge their problems and overcome the problems. The boot camp is for girls, and we shall continue to do it in batches to capture as many girls as possible”.
