LAGOS — The Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Agboyi-Ketu has announced a comprehensive programme aimed at transforming the lives of girls within its jurisdiction, with a focus on education, health, and empowerment. The initiative, unveiled recently by council chairperson Adetola Abubarka Oyedele, is part of a broader strategy to prioritize human development, support grassroots advancement, and foster gender equality in a community where many families struggle to meet the basic needs of girls at puberty.
Speaking at the Lagos State House of Assembly complex, Oyedele said that education, healthcare, and empowerment would form the cornerstone of her administration’s agenda. She noted that while her predecessor, Dele Oshinowo, laid the groundwork with infrastructure projects and economic initiatives, she intends to build on that foundation by prioritizing the needs of girls, who represent the backbone of future generations.
“The girl child appeals to me deeply as a woman and a mother,” Oyedele said. “They deserve more than just charity; they deserve dignity, skills, education, and the confidence to compete with their peers.”
At the heart of the new policy is a monthly sanitary pad distribution programme aimed at eliminating one of the most neglected aspects of girl-child welfare. Sanitary hygiene is often taken for granted, Oyedele noted, but for many families, it is a costly necessity that can force girls to miss school or drop out entirely. By providing free sanitary products to all school-age girls under the local council’s jurisdiction, the administration hopes to reduce menstrual-related absenteeism and ensure that girls stay in school and pursue their education uninterrupted.
Beyond hygiene support, the council has pledged to introduce scholarship schemes that will fund tuition, books, and examination fees for girls from low-income families. Oyedele announced that priority will be given to students sitting for secondary school certification exams, such as the GCE, and highlighted plans to provide free registration forms to qualified girls. The effort is designed to level the playing field for girls who may otherwise be unable to afford the costs associated with secondary education.
In addition, the programme includes skill-acquisition workshops focused on vocational training, computer literacy, entrepreneurship, and self-defense, which will empower young girls to become economically independent and resilient. The council also intends to launch mentorship programmes by connecting girls with female leaders and professionals who can guide them toward paths in education and leadership.
