..mblock usage, Gele tying, make-up, cake baking, wig, Artworks form day 8 activities

As the ongoing two weeks Bemore Summer bootcamp enters its eight day today, participating girls have been charged to speak up against any form of sexual and gender-based violence meted out on them by any individual, regardless of who.

The Ondo State Secretary of the Agency Against Gender-Based Violence, OSAA-GBV, Mrs. Bola Afolabi, gave the charge while giving talk on Gender-Based Violence(GBV).

She introduced the girls to the topic, instances and effects of GBV on victims and the society at large.

She enjoined them not to hide their problems but speak out in order to overcome emotional trauma that can lead to suicide and depression.

Afolabi informed them about the existence of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law enacted to punish perpetrators of GBV, and advised the girls not to be silenced by threat from the offenders, but search for a trusted person to confide in.

Part of the day’s camping activities was the visit of a women and children advocacy group, Stand Up for Women, whose members acknowledged the efforts of the First Lady of Ondo State for birthing such a life-impacting programme.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Mrs. Fatima Muraina, who is the state Secretary, after interacting with Bemore officials, and the participants, expressed surprise that 350 girls couldn’t have been children of the political class as insinuated in some quarters that bemore beneficiaries are children of politicians.

Charging the girls to make judicious use of the knowledge they acquired, the Stand up for women’s Scribe affirmed that Ondo First Lady really had passion for women as Bemore is indeed, a platform championing female empowerment.

She added that the knowledge and skills being taught at the camp could be sources of livelihood for so many of them in the nearest future, if well-utilised.

“This is an opportunity you must utilise very well because Mama is giving you the most important knowledge in this dispensation by making you to be digitalised. Keep on praying for her. “

She used the opportunity to also laud Her Excellency’s Widows initiative which she affirmed to be a beneficiary, while describing it as first of its kind to have catered for people like her without any political connection, but by just registered on the website.

Today’s classroom activities included continuation of lesson on Coding with mblock, creating of Google form under ICT Class; and practical session on solar installation.

Camping activities, which started with the routinal morning fitness exercise and Taekwondo training for self-defense, closed with skills acquisition on tying of headgear, make-up, cake baking, Artworks and Music training.

By Mary Agidi
Special Assistant to the Governor on Media (Office of the First Lady)
August 21, 2023


📸 Saidu Abdulrahman & Gbenga Fasakin