The Center for Gender Research, Advocacy and Documentation (CEGRAD) has marked the International Day of the Girl Child on the theme: “Digital Generation Our Generation”.
The International Day of the Girl-Child fell on October 11, and was commemorated all over the world in recognition of girls’ rights and the unique challenges they face around the world.
Students from Gomoa Central Girls Education and Iman Khomeini Junior High School participated in the event, which was held at the Auditorium 900, UCC.
Dr. Alimatu-Saadia Yussif
Dr. Alimatu-Saadia Yussif , from Department of Computer Science and Information, who made a presentation on the topic: “ Girl-Child and Smartphones,” educated pupils on the merits and demerits of having smartphone especially in the 21st century.
She pointed out that, “2010 census shows that 10% of children between age 12-19 have access to internet but the 2021 Population and Housing census indicates that 8 out of 10 persons 12 years and above own a phone.”
Dr. Yussif added that 20% of women were less likely to own a phone than men. She advised young girls to stay away from cyber bully, pornography and urged them to use their phones to learn soft skills like catering and sewing on the internet.
According to her, continuous screen experience was very detrimental to once health and could lead to health problems such as headache, eye problem and extreme issues like depression.
She also cautioned the students against copying blindly from some social media influencers who flaunt their wealth, claiming some of the influencers online are living fake lifestyle.
delivering on the topic “Career Choices in the Digital Age”, Dr. Yvonne A. Adjakloe, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Geography and Regional Planning, walked the pupils through the RIASEC Test.
According to her, the test involved helping the students identify if they are Realist, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising or Conventional to help them in finding out what career part best suits them.
She, therefore, advised the girls to develop their skills and not limit themselves.
“Remember being a girl does not mean we are homogenous so challenge yourselves because we all have different capabilities”, Dr. Adjakloe admonished.
Dr. Adjakloe advised the pupils to learn to control their space on social media, or else it will end up controlling them. She encouraged the students to make good use of Digital marketing.
Speaking further, she counselled the pupils to engage in networking and also be very innovative in their endeavours. “Also try to promote yourself, that is add value to yourself”, she said.
Dr. Adjakloe urged the girls to disabuse their minds from the erroneous impression that they were in competition with their colleagues and implored them to focus on becoming the best version of themselves.
Background
The UN chose October 11, 2023 as the International Day of the Girl-Child, for which reason October 11, every year is a day in support of opportunities for girls and an occasion for enhancing awareness of the gender inequality girls face worldwide based on their gender.
Inequalities girls face include lack of access to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care and discrimination and violence and forced child marriages.