By Uduak Etukudo
UYO
In its continued drive towards making a difference in the life of a girl child, Family Empowerment and Youth Re-orientation Path-Initiative (FEYReP) has sensitised teenage girls in secondary schools across the three senatorial districts of Akwa Ibom on the need to have a purpose for their lives.
The sensitisation, which marked the ninth edition of Girls Uphold Your Dignity, one of the programmes of the organisation, at FEYReP Hall, Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, had as its theme: “Girls With Purpose: Your Future Starts Now”.
Addressing the gathering, the progenitor of FEYReP and former Akwa Ibom first lady, Dr Martha Udom Emmanuel, said the purpose of the event was to challenge and inspire the young girls to be focused and committed to their goals and aspirations as future leaders.
Emmanuel, who narrated how Girls Uphold Your Dignity programme started, pointed out that precisely in year 2016, she and her team were burdened by the increasing number of teenage pregnancies and attacks on young girls, so they embarked on an intervention and through the help of the Holy Spirit, the programme was established.
The progenitor expressed gladness that the programme meant to sensitise young girls in schools, churches and communities in the area of gender-based violence (GBV), sex education, drug abuse and human trafficking, has recorded tremendous impact across communities in the state, adding that it has been nine years of fruitful labour.
She disclosed that the rationale behind this year’s theme,”Girls With Purpose: Your Future Starts Now”, was borne out of the fact that there are so much pressing demand to focus on the girl child because of the troubling times she lives in and the glaring signs which put her both on the spotlight and in dangers of targeted times.
The former Akwa Ibom first lady assured the young girls that they can win if they have the right counsels, do the right things always and remain committed and focused in their studies.
She cautioned them to avoid every entanglement that distracts them from pursuing their goals and illustrated four gowns a girl child should wear and the stages each should be worn, listing the gowns to include matriculation gown, which is their education; graduation gown, as well as wedding and maternity gowns, respectively, noting that it was an error for them to jump the process by wearing maternity gown after matriculation gown.
“If there was a time when you needed to take your own destiny in your hands and decide what future you want for yourself, that time is now. Do not wait for tomorrow, do not wait until the heat of responsibility suffocates you. Give attention to your dreams and start building your future”, she counselled.
Emmanuel thanked donor agencies, civil society organisations, leaders of thought, and other guests who came to celebrate the girl child and sued for more support to continue impacting the society.
The event featured a keynote address by Professor Imoh Emenyi, a drama presentation, cultural display, testimonies from beneficiaries of FEYReP and current Miss Akwa Ibom, Miss Unwana Obot, as well as goodwill messages from the chairman, Oruk Anam Local Government Area, Elder Sunday Festus Akpan, and a representative of Ibom Air, Ms Imelda Abah.
It also featured panel discussion anchored by Mr. Aniekeme Finbar, with erudite discussants including member for Uruan State Constituency, Dr. Itorobong Etim; wife of former UNIUYO vice chancellor, Mrs Rosalyn Essien; chairman, Akwa Ibom State Action Committee on AIDS (AK-SACA), Dr Enobong Akpan; Clifford Thomas Esq; and Dr Enobong Mkpang from the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital.
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