Girls Advocates, a group of girls in Vine Branch Church, Ibadan, has restated the need for equipping girls with skills and continuous education to check criminal activities.
Mrs Aderinsola Oyediji and Pastor Bridget Kolade, the coordinators of the group, said in separate interviews in Ibadan that the forthcoming annual August Girls’ Assembly would be used for such training.
According to Kolade, more than 15,000 girls have gone through the assembly, an arm of Worth-In-Womanhood of Vine Branch Ministry in which more than 1, 000 girls gather yearly for life-changing trainings.
Oyediji said that the motive behind gathering girls was to deliberately mix their education with the capacity to identify and abstain from crimes, perversion, wickedness and other social vices.
She noted that girls ought to be equipped to handle life and come out victorious, exemplary, outstanding, successful and godly.
According to her, August Girls’ Assembly caters for girls between the ages of eight years and 19 years with a vision to discover virtues in every girl.
We focused on all round development of every participant by teaching them to build lasting foundations, right family values and careers.
“Participants are taught to feed their spirits, nurture their souls and keep their body from defilement.
“Moreover, practical session will be held on self-care, safety tips to prevent rape and kidnapping,’’ she said.
Oyediji announced that the current August Girls’ Assembly will kick-start with a broadcast on the national television station on Sunday and the state radio station.
“Admission is free but there is a compulsory registration via augustgirlsvbc.org.
“There would also be girls’ vocation training for girls who have just completed their secondary school education after that programme,’’ she explained.
Similarly, Kolade noted that participants would be taught the provision of God for the youth as potential catalysts for a greater future.
“God is not gender biased; He made them male and female according to Gen. 1:27-28; in such a way that the man is not complete without the woman likewise the woman is not complete without the man.
“Each one is just different and equipped. God wants us to be the best of ourselves and that is the message of Worth-In-Womanhood.
“The word of God is the seed that would be sown into the lives of these girls; we trust God that their hearts will be a fertile ground as we have been praying for them,’’ she said.
“After the event, there would be a continuous mentoring programme called The Online Girls’ Club that leverages technology to provide an avenue for serious discussions on a monthly basis.
“This programme has been on for 18 years now and it has produced many great women. It is said that when you train a daughter, you train a nation.
She urged parents to release their girls to participate in the programme to experience all that God has in stock for them.
(NAN)