NSUK 43 Inaugural Lecture: Prof. Ngozi Nwosu advocates prioritizing girl-child education like that of male folks

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By Samuel Torlumun

A Professor of Sociology of Education, Nasarawa State University Keffi, NSUK, Ngozi Patience Nwosu has advocated that making girl-child education a priority just like that of the male folks is the right of the girl child.

Prof. Ngozi Nwosu made this submission while delivering the 43rd NSUK Inaugural Lecture Series, titled Nigerian Gender on Zealous Imagination: New Ways of Sustaining Understanding, held at the university campus on Wednesday.

According to the erudite Professor whose lecture was doted with thunderous applause of exciting cheers, “education is the right of a female child. Education provides the girl-child the opportunity to develop full potentials and plays motherly role in the nation as a whole.

According to her proposition, girl-child education in a larger sense is a tool for women emancipation, empowerment to make financial contributions to families and the community. “Education has power to transform people and give the girl-child the opportunity for their critical reasoning.

“Educating the girl-child will liberate and emancipate her expression, ignorance, poverty and abuse of all kinds upon the female folks” she argued.

She said in developing countries like Nigeria where crime and violence have assumed alarming status, with girl-child/women being the most victims, the sure way to preventing crime against women folks is by getting them educated.

To achieve a social setting of girl-child education for self-actualization, economic independence, empowerment among others, the Professor of Sociology of Education is advocating that privileged women should embrace and support girl-child education.

In terms of awareness, Prof. Ngozi Nwosu stated that Government, NGOs, faith-based organizations, women associations through regular seminars, conferences, workshops etc, should instruct and teach parents on the importance of educating girl-child.

She also called on more research to reduce the factor against girl-child education as well as calling on establishment of more government girl schools to give opportunity to the girl-child. She noted that menace like early marriage should be prohibited or discouraged with enabling laws’ enactment.

Professor Ngozi Nwosu is the fourth female professor to deliver inaugural lecture in the university and the second in the faculty of education.

Earlier in her remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Sa’adatu Hassan Liman commended professors for diligently upholding the important tradition of the university as she, particularly congratulated Professor Ngozi Nwosu for again bringing to the fore the issue of gender/girl-child education.

Emphasizing the importance of the lecture, the VC explained that “whenever the term gender is mentioned, many attribute it to women folks who in many societies are challenged and often put in disadvantage position concerning the men. It is what has been in existence concerning gender roles especially for the women and how it contributes to the development of our society. But we are also not oblivious of the feminist struggle and the feminist ideals which are mostly in conflict with the traditional roles in our society”.

She is optimistic that the inaugural lecture will presents new perspectives to the gender issues for a better society, and pledged her administration’s commitment to continue to support the university’s revere tradition.

In his remarks, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South senatorial district said gender discourse is an all important issue and commended the lecturer for exploring different perspectives to it. He said Nigeria must recognize and appreciate women for who they are for a better society. He appreciated Professor Nwosu for her resilience of combining motherhood and lecturing, and yet making it to the zenith.

Other dignitaries who spoke showered encomiums on Prof. Nwosu for choosing an important area for a discourse. Those who spoke included former VC of the university, Professor Mohammed Mainoma, Major General Abraham Chukwu Martins, Rtd, HRM Eze (Dr.) Sir Udo Nwosu, husband of the inaugural lecturer among.

The event witnessed presentation of the plaque of honour and certificate to the 43rd Inaugural Lecturer by the Vice Chancellor.