Rescue Leah From Captivity – ICI-GWODEF Gives FG Ultimatum

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A non governmental organization known as International Charitable Initiative For Girl And Woman Development, ICI-GWODEF, has given the Federal Government of Nigeria an ultimatum for the release of Miss Leah Sharibu captured and seized by Boko Haram terrorist group.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that it was one of the demands made by the group to mark this year United Nations, UN, declaration of the International day for Girl Child with the theme: Empower Girls: Before, During and after Conflict at the event held at Ago area in Okota, Lagos.

The founder and convener of the group, Barrister Helen Ibeji, in her address stated that the government has not done enough to free Miss Leah from the hands of her captors and unite her with her family.
Mrs. Ibeji said that it was wrong for any government to stand and watch its citizens perish without any action as shown in the case of Leah. She said that the group wants her rescued as soon as possible and after this year and if not ICI-GWODEF will have no option than to file legal actions against the Federal Government.

On the theme of this year’s International day for the Girl Child by UN, she said that the focus was on the information empowerment for every girl child. She explained that we must start with girl child information empowerment hence the focus; saying that a well informed girl child is a well informed mother and a well informed mother is a well informed nation.

The convener said that if we hope to achieve the UN development goals, we start with girls and women and everything will fall in place.
In the spirit of information empowerment, Ibeji stated that every girl is expected to have five types of information clothes to wear in life which she explained as – School, Matriculation, Graduation, Wedding and Maternity Uniforms in life sequence.
She said that means there is time for everything in the sequence of life and advised the girl child to work towards achieving those goals and empowerment.

The event witnessed the attendance of many school girls from different schools in Lagos and women were well represented by prominent ladies in Lagos society. One of the prominent guests was the Deputy Chief Whip, Chief (Mrs.) Omotayo Oduntan, of the Lagos State House Assembly. She encouraged the girl child to be focused and acquire education in order to achieve their desired goals in life.
There were other speakers at the event including the representative of the female lawyers in life Nigeria and Chief Magistrate of Family Court in Nigeria, Lagos State teachers and representatives of media houses who covered the event.
The climax of the event was when hundred of students who attended the event demonstrated with their play cards demanding for the release of Leah Sharibu. There were also displays of arts and trainings on skill acquisition on how to make some materials to mark the event.