BY OLUWATOSIN IGHOTEGUONO
Over three hundred and eighty girls have graduated from this years BEMORE summer boot camp in ondo state.
The event which was held at the main auditorium of the Federal University of Technology, FUTA, Akure had in attendance dignitaries from all works of life including monarchs, serving minister, other government functionaries and parents of BEMORE girls.
The girls who were dressed in a branded white T-shirt on a pair of Jean with orange faze cap beamed with smiles of hope of a better future and made a display of what they did during the two weeks programme.
The young girls were trained in different skills such as solar installation, introduction to VAPP LAW offences and penalty, Taekwandoo, Tie and Dye, Coding/ Business card design, make-up, tying of gele and art works.
The programme also gave girls from the school for the hearing impaired the opportunity to showcase their God given skills.
In a welcome address, Former BEMORE girl of class 2018, Miss Abimbola Ogunsomore who explained that the initiative turned her to be a better person in the society noted that she now trained other young girls.
Miss Ogunsomore charged the graduands to make themselves relevant in their chosen fields for the for their own benefit and that of the state and the nation in general.
The BEMORE initiator and wife of the Ondo state governor, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu while appreciating her husband for supporting the initiative said the girls had been trained on different ways to be self employed for the rest of their lives.
Mrs Akeredolu charged the girls not to forget all that they had learnt as most of it would make them overcome different challenges of life most especially at this period of economic downturn.
The special guest at the occasion and minister of science and technology, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora who described education as a great liberator of the mind, charged the BEMORE girls to make judicious use of all they have been taught at the camp for the development of the country.
Senator Mamora noted that his ministry would always support initiatives that imparted knowledge into the leaders of tomorrow, adding that BEMORE Programme would put government on its toes in the area of education, entrepreneurship, ICT and empowerment programmes.
The chairman at the occasion, Mr Jimoh Ibrahim while appreciating the wife of the governor’s initiative for breaking the jinx of no future for girl child called for the institutionalization of BEMORE in the state.
Mr Ibrahim who posited that to whom much is given much is expected encouraged the girls to develop more on their education, give back to the society, be courageous and protect their integrity.
In his words, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu who was also the chief host and represented by his deputy, Mr Lucky Ayedatiwa explained that the programme had bridge gender gap in the state and had therefore come to stay.
The governor urged the BEMORE girls to go impact their world positively calling on stakeholders to support government in training both the boy child to complement the girl child for better future.
In a goodwill message, the Ondo state commissioner for Education, Pastor Femi Agagu represented by the permanent secretary in the ministry, Mrs Lola Amuda commended the vision of bringing children in remote areas to limelight saying this would help them in breaking the circle of poverty in the society.
Pastor Agagu noted that the programme had changed the narrative people had towards girl child urging the graduand to explore the world.
Some of the girls who were elated at the programme promised to replicate the gesture in their various communities.
The 2022 BEMORE Summer boot camp closing program witnessed Taekwondo presentation, art work auction, Dance/music presentation, Health talk on Breast Cancer by the girls, presentation of laptop, solar home system and certificate to the girls.