Mrs Tolu Taiwo, Executive Director of Twenty One Five Foundation (TIFF), has urged the girl-child to always be original and confident.
Taiwo gave the advice on Friday in Ibadan at a symposium and essay competition to celebrate the girl-child.
The event was organised by the foundation to celebrate the International Day of the Girl-Child.
Taiwo urged the girl-child to be confident and maintain self-esteem in spite of any odds.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2024 International Day of the Girl-Child had the theme: ‘Vision for the Future’.
Taiwo said that there would not be any future without the present taken care of; hence, the need for celebrating the girl-child and organising the programme.
“There is this thing going on now on social media about ‘beauty standard’.
“We picked a topic, ‘Redefining Beauty Standards in the Digital Era: Promoting Body Positivity and Self-Acceptance’.
“We sent out to 11 schools for students to redefine beauty standard and work on their body positivity and self-acceptance.
“We are here to educate the girls, empower them and let them know the advantages and disadvantages of social media.
“Through the write ups of these children, we have learnt a lot. It gave us peace of mind that we still have brilliant girls out there who can make a bright future,” she said.
One of the panelists, Mrs Funke Temenu, appreciated the TIFF for organising the event.
“I was emotional to see children being encouraged to write essays. In this way, we are encouraging education, encouraging girls to be who they really are.
“We have let the girls to know today that beauty is always who you are, beauty is what is in the inside.
“If they embrace that and accept that, they will be able to work with confidence and be real.
“This will make the girls to understand that they need to redefine beauty in this age of social media where everything goes,” she said.
NAN reports that 33 students from 11 schools in Ibadan participated in the essay competition.
The winner, Miss Oreoluwa Ibikunle from All Saints College, Ibadan, went home with a laptop, N50,000 cash and a plaque.
Ibikunle said the event made her and other teenagers to understand that beauty was actually from the inside and not outside.
“Such a programme should be encouraged in the society so that the world will produce better women.
“I am surprised I emerged the winner of the essay competition, I wasn’t expecting it and I give glory to God,” she said. (NAN)
