ZURIEL ODUWOLE, HERITAGE BANK’S FINANCIAL LITERACY ICON TASKS AFRICAN FIRST LADIES ON GIRL-CHILD EDUCATION

Zuriel Oduwole, Nigerian-born global girl-child advocate and Heritage Bank’s Financial Literacy brand ambassador, has enjoined First Ladies and women leaders across the African continent to intensify effort towards educating and creating a brighter future for the female child.

She spoke at the First Ladies’ Colloquy on Girl-child Education in Africa under the theme “Practical & Simple Solutions, one-village at a time” held at the new Eko Hotel Signature Suites recently under the auspices of her pet project – Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up.  

The 11-year old Nigerian prodigy, the youngest person to be interviewed by Forbes Magazine, was acclaimed as one of Africa’s 100 most influential persons of 2013.

 Speaking on the objective behind the international roundtable colloquy on the critical issue of the girl-child education, She said, “We are here to talk about the future of millions of educationally disadvantaged African children, particularly the girl-child. I am not always happy seeing children out of school; it is a signpost to poverty and bleak future. We need involvement of first Ladies, mothers, School owners and all change-agents to ensure that the girl-child is allowed to have quality education and acquire skills that would make her a wholesome person to herself and the nation at large.”

The young African girl-child advocate, who was recently unveiled as the face of Heritage Bank’s Financial Literacy campaign in Nigeria, showed a few minutes clips from the mini-documentary she and her two other sisters – Azaliah and Arielle - put together as entry for the first ever White House Film Festival about the technology they use for their school work and what role technology will have in the future for children around the world.

According to her, “The future of Africa belonged to a well educated society where the girl-child is not left out to rot. This is why my Sister, Azaliah and I are committed to mobilizing for a continent occupied by development, healthy and well educated future leaders”.

The documentary, which showed the future of education where there will not be the barrier of distance or classroom to get education as Laptops and computers connect to interface of internet networks and rich online resources, received overwhelming applause from the filled-to-capacity hall comprising, among others, select student representatives of schools like Corona, Greensprings, Halifield and Pampers Private school.

The First Lady of Tanzania, Her Excellency, Salma Kikwete who was represented by the Ambassador of Tanzania to Nigeria, Mr. Daniel Ole Njoolay calls for concerted efforts by all African leaders to support Zuriel’s genuine concern for the development of Africa and particularly the girl-child education campaign.

The First Lady of Lagos State, Her Excellency, Dame Abimbola Fashola, expressed happiness at all the efforts put together by Zuriel and Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up iniative aimed at promoting the cause of the girl-child education in Africa. She however gave a clarion call to all stakeholders to search their environment to ensure that there is no girl-child being denied of her right to be educated.

“This is a clarion call to all parents, guardians and stakeholders to search our environment and communities to act fast by educating our girl-child from primary to secondary schools through the university level. However, if this is not possible, we should ensure that the girl-child gets a skill for her to be able to compete favourably in this global city we have found ourselves,” explained Dame Fashola.

Heritage Bank’s Executive Director, Mr. Robert Mbonu, who stood in for the Bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Ifie Sekibo, noted that the Bank is proud of Zuriel’s impressive exploit in Nigeria and across the globe. He observed that the bank is poised to ensure financial sustainability across generation through its policies.

Mbonu said: “Heritage Bank is built on three platforms; to create wealth, to preserve wealth and to transfer wealth across generations. In line with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s financial inclusion strategy, we have adopted some schools. The idea is to ensure financial responsibilities in our children. We want them to learn basic skills of money management.”

Mrs. Tokunbo Durosaro, Director, Oando Foundation, tasked private organisations to pull resources together towards developing the nation’s rotting education system. According to her out of about 57 million children that are out of school globally, 10.5 million are from Nigeria.