The Vice President of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) Student Union Government (SUG), Comrade Omotuemen Favour, has launched the ‘Save the Girl Child’ advocacy campaign, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at combating sexual harassment, gender-based violence (GBV), child marriage, and exploitation.
The landmark event, held at the UNIBEN auditorium, drew a diverse audience of students, civil society advocates, and government representatives. With powerful speeches, artistic performances, and strategic empowerment sessions, the initiative called for urgent action to protect and empower the girl child, especially within academic and domestic spaces.
Delivering the opening keynote, Comrade Omotuemen Favour charged the audience to embrace gender justice and speak up against the silencing of young women.
“Girls are not kitchen makers; they are nation builders,” she declared, sparking a wave of applause.
A central theme of the campaign was the rising cases of sexual harassment in academic institutions. Speakers and panellists stressed the need for safe learning environments, institutional accountability, and access to justice for victims. Discussions also emphasized emotional trauma, educational inequality, and the broader social systems that perpetuate the marginalization of girls.
In a show of solidarity, top government offices lent their voices to the advocacy. Mrs. Edesili Anani Okpebholo, Coordinator at the Office of the First Lady of Edo State, commended Comrade Omotuemen’s bold leadership.
“This is the kind of leadership we need, one that puts the girl child at the centre of our development,” she said.
Representatives from the Office of Mrs. Loretta Oduware Ogboro-Okor, Director General of Edo State Diaspora Affairs, praised the initiative and reaffirmed their commitment to inclusive gender empowerment policies.
Officials from the Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs also participated in the event, calling for more community-led awareness campaigns, legal safeguards, and education-focused reforms to address the threats faced by girls in both schools and homes.
A highlight of the day was the entrepreneurial pitch session, where female students showcased their business ideas. With support from strategic partners, a cash grant of ₦100,000 was awarded to the most outstanding participant, a concrete step toward promoting economic empowerment for young women.
The event also featured vibrant spoken word poetry, a moving drama presentation by Theatre Arts students addressing issues like child marriage and abuse, and dynamic panel discussions led by youth activists and gender advocates.
The “Save the Girl Child” campaign, under the leadership of Comrade Omotuemen Favour, resonated far beyond the UNIBEN community. With backing from the Office of the First Lady, the Edo State Diaspora Affairs, and the Ministry of Women Affairs, the campaign issued a clarion call for systemic change.
“Protecting the girl child is not just a duty,” Comrade Favour stated in her closing remarks, “it is a collective responsibility and a moral imperative.”
