OOU Don Tasks Authorities, Parents on Girl-child Training, Development

James Sowole in Abeokuta

A professor of New Testament and Christian Theology in the Department of Religious Studies, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, Olatundun Oderinde, has tasked authorities and parents to train girl-child, as a human being, who is capable of performing any task.

After delivering the 110th Inaugural Lecture of OOU, held at the Otunba Gbenga Daniel Multipurpose Hall on the school campus, the professor threw the challenge as part of her recommendations.

The lecture titled ‘Woo-Man, Woe-Man, Woman? Redefining The Nomenclature in God’s Perspective’, was attended by the academic community, traditional rulers from Yewaland led by the Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Olukehinde Olugbenle, religious leaders and principal officers of the institution.

According to the don, who delved into various forms of discrimination against young girls and women, training the girls becomes necessary to change the old narratives about women and give proper orientation about the true identity and personhood of women in the present and coming generations.

Oderinde, the OOU deputy vice-chancellor (academics), said the socialisation process for girl-child must be all-encompassing.

She said, “The socialisation process in content and process must be such that inspire the girl-child must be a responsible, pro-active, strong, formidable, fearless, resilient social being. We must inculcate into the personality of the girl-child skills and values that enable her to adjust and play different social roles, take responsibility for her life, learn disciplined behaviour and habits that promote a humane society and not conceive herself as an appendage of men- one who must seek the pleasure and blessings of men in order to succeed in life.”

The lecturer also recommended that practices, which always perceive girls and women as inferior and second-class, must be discarded and equal growth opportunities be provided.