A kind hearted banker, scholar and philanthropist, Dr. [Mrs] Ayobami Akin- Desmond, has shone the bright light of hope and motivation on the teeming population of adolescent females in the country, for whom she unveiled a charitable organisation, Girl Child Totalcare Foundation, at her 50th birthday anniversary in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, to provide mentorship, scholarship, menstrual hygiene information, career guidance, public health education and nation building instructions for the future mothers of the nation.
The girl child rights advocate, Dr. Akin-Desmond assembled intermediate students from several schools in Ibadan metropolis to participate in the enlightenment campaign and free sanitary towels ceremony held at the Saint Louis Grammar School, Mokola, Ibadan.
Dignitaries from the State Ministries of Women’s Affairs, Social Inclusion, Education and Health and stakeholders in the private and public sectors graced the event and showered encomiums on the founder of Girl Child Total Care Foundation, whom they described as a selfless and steadfast woman of substance who volunteered to help and groom the younger generation of women.
The Convener of the event, Dr. Akin-Desmond said her personal experience while growing up without much knowledge as a young girl prompted her decision to set up a charity to enlighten, educate and emancipate the girl child, in order to empower and ensure self-confidence young women.
“The girl child needs immense support and care to grown into useful adults and responsible homemakers and dutiful citizens. Hence, we are ready for collaboration and partnership with charitable individuals, captains of industries, corporate companies and the government, in pursuit of peace of mind, psychological upgrade and mental health sanity for our younger generations of women who deserve a better narrative and rights to a fulfilling existence”, pleaded the doctor of letters and senior banker.
In her distinguished response, the Honourable Commissioner Women’s Affairs and Social Inclusion, Toyin Balogun, advised young girls to prioritize their health and hygiene as their body undergoes significant changes at different stages of adulthood, and they need to understand these essential transformations.
The State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Saheed Adelabu commended the initiator of the foundation, for supporting the government by equipping girls in Oyo State with free sanitary pads while raising awareness hygiene and menstrual circle issues.
The guest speaker, Nurse Nifemi Akinyele, urged the girls not to see menstruation as a disease or defect. Instead she encouraged them to embrace this developmental stage with pride, and maintain good health throughout the period.
The Girl Child Totalcare Foundation distributed free sanitary towels and other souvenirs to hundreds of youth ambassadors in their maiden outing.
The joyful recipients showed gratitude to their benefactor and prayed for a wealth of good health for her, as they wished her many happy returns of her birth anniversary.
