Unlocking Potential: The Graciella Initiative’s ‘The Girl Who Dream’ Conference Inspires Sagamu Schoolgirls
By: JP Ashedzy
The Graciella Initiative (TGI) organized a conference for the girl child themed “The Girl Who Dreams”. At the event which took place at Ewusi Palace, Sagamu, the convener, Miss Grace Anuforo during her opening speech told the participants that each girl can be whatever she wants. “Most of you just want to follow the tide, but that’s not how it should be” she said.
Girls from several schools in Sagamu including Remo Secondary School (Junior and Senior), Soyindo High School, Solid Rock College, Advanced Breed School, Methodist High School and several others graced the events in their beautiful school uniforms.
Reverend Mrs. Mojisola who spoke on the theme of the conference stated that a dream is a cherished aspiration. She likened a dream to the accelerator of a car saying that a dream the driving force of the girl child.
Monique Pettaway, an author and SDG advocate during a virtual session encouraged the girls to never give up on their dreams.
Participants from all the schools were provided opportunities to deliver speeches on the girl who dream. At the end of the speech, Kehinde Promise from Makun High School emerged the winner having been able to properly communicate and explain the importance of the theme to the audience.
To enhance reading culture and to curb the low level of literacy among girls in public schools, the TGI published the CVS story booklet for girls. At the unveiling, Mr. David Sowemimo said that the book had been tested over a period of one year with 100 children aged 10–15 years and proved to be very an expert way of teaching people to read.
Love Anuforo, sister to Grace Anuforo and lecturer of German language in the US, addressed the girls virtually to not let anything stand between them and their dreams.
Temitope Olanike, founder and ambassador of the Foundation for Action Against Irregular Migration (FAAIM), and a survivor of human trafficking said human trafficking is real in Nigeria. She shared her experience pointing out that experience as a slave in Libya pushed her to stand for the rights of the girl most, especially in Sagamu.
Two girls, Grace and Darasimi were presented scholarship awards for outstanding performance in a reading competition.
Mr. Christian Eguenu was presented a humanitarian award for sponsoring five girls to works as interns at Classic Footies and Dough house.
As she brought the conference to a close, Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Abosede Ogunleye, ably represented by Mrs. Afolabi said, “your dream is your dream and is best achieved by you, so do not be the first person to ruin it”.
