Pognab Pauline Atenalie Azenab, the Queen mother of the Wiaga Traditional area, has urged gender-focused organizations to involve boys and men in their advocacy efforts to address the challenges faced by the girl child effectively. She emphasized that while advocating for girls is crucial due to existing societal barriers, excluding boys and men from the conversation may hinder progress.
In an interview marking International Women's Day, Pognab Azenab highlighted the importance of engaging boys and men to understand the plight of the girl child, especially regarding issues like abstaining from sex to avoid jeopardizing their future. She stressed that girls do not impregnate themselves, and involving boys and men in advocacy efforts is essential to address the root causes of such challenges.
The Queen mother expressed concern that most gender-focused organizations have predominantly focused on the girl child in recent times, neglecting the role of boys and men, who sometimes perpetrate the issues they aim to combat. She called for a more inclusive approach that involves all genders in addressing gender-related issues.
Pognab Azenab also encouraged girls to prioritize education and assert themselves confidently in male-dominated spaces. She emphasized the importance of self-worth, empowerment, and confidence-building among young women, urging them to take their education seriously and actively engage in discussions about government policies and societal issues.
In conclusion, she called on young women to project themselves and emphasized that empowerment and confidence-building start at the individual level. Her advocacy underscores the importance of inclusive gender initiatives that involve both boys and girls in creating a more equitable society.
