The Old Girls Association of Government Girls Secondary School, Finima (GGSSF) says there was the need for a conducive environment for the girl-child to pursue lofty objectives and be empowered educationally and otherwise to contribute to societal development.

National President of the association, Rachael Banigo said this today when she led her members on a visit to their alma mater, GGSS Finima in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State to distribute nose masks against the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The education of the girl child cannot be overemphasized. It is of very high importance to the whole world. It is a ‘Yes’ to female education, the education of the girl child. That’s why we have come to give you nosemasks because you need to stay safe in the examination hall so that after writing the exams Covid-19 will not see you.”

She was accompanied on the visit by National Vice President of the association, Adata Bristol, and National Welfare Officer, Fortune Adekunle.

Others were the Chairperson of the Old Girls Association of Government Girls Secondary School, Finima, Bonny Zone, Rosannah Wilcox, Deputy Chairperson, Emilia Hart, Secretary, Favour Spencer, Assistant Secretary, Elizabeth Allison, Treasurer, Christabel Halliday, Financial Secretary, Blessing Mina Maxwell, Welfare Officer, Ibiawo Tolofari, and Assistant Welfare Officer, Joy Jumbo, among others. 

Banigo, who is the Zonal Coordinator of the Environmental and Occupational Health Services, Bonny LGA, stressed the importance of wearing a nosemask, pointing out that “The nosemask is a sure way of protecting you and it is one thing that prevents you from inhaling the virus”.

She noted that though there were social, economic and academic barriers before the girl-child, a determined female student would sure assail those barriers, adding that she and her colleagues were once students like them and faced same challenges but with determination they were able to overcome and today they are succeeding in their various fields of endeavour.

“We came around to see what you are doing here. We were here like you some time ago and there were barriers that tended to obstruct us but we waded through them and today we are doing well. If we waded through those backgrounds and we are who we are today you too can do it. Beat your chest and say I can do so. I’m comfortable that I will make it.”

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“We are believing that you too will wade through them. We are here to encourage you. We are here to say hold on, hold fort, continue until you wade through them and stand out tomorrow.”

The public health environmental expert maintained that the future of the nation were in the hands of the youths, especially, the ambitious, innovative and tenacious youths, asserting the academic prowess of products of the school in diverse aspect of life’s endeavours.

“The future of this nation is not just I the hands of the politicians, it is in your hands. We know that Finima girls we are the best. Are we not the best? We are the best in Bonny. We are the best in Rivers State. We are the best in Nigeria. We are the best in the whole world. And we will remain the best.”