Human rights stakeholders have called on parents and guardians, particularly mothers, to create strong emotional connections, and a safe and non-judgmental environment to nurture their girls.
The stakeholders made the call on the sidelines of an event to mark the International Day of the Girl Child in Lagos.
The biannual event tagged: ‘My Daughter My Friend,’ was organised by YinkaKenny Girls Care Foundation.
They expressed concerns about the increasing challenges teenage girls experience, most of which were said to arise from low self-esteem.
The Convener, Mrs Yinka Kenny, said the programme was aimed at enlightening mothers on how to properly bond and relate with their daughters inspite of pressures from their various endeavours.
Kenny said from experience gathered overtime, many issues teenage girls have were due to lack of good relationship between them and their mothers.
“As a teenager also, I went through some things and my mother never knew; at some point, I began nurturing suicidal thoughts,” she said.
The wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Claudiana Sanwo-Olu, urged mothers to build stronger bonds with their daughters by being closer to them.
“Show up for them and let them know you are their biggest cheerleader; encourage them to pursue their passions and interests even if they differ from yours,” she said.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by Mrs Bukola Akosile, also urged mothers to be good role models to their daughters.
She urged them to teach their daughters to be kind and compassionate.
The Chief of Staff to the Lagos State Government, Mr Tayo Ayinde, also called on parents to have a closer relationship with their children, irrespective of gender.
Ayinde, represented by Mr Akinduro Ibesanmi, urged parents to ensure they listen to their children and help them develop themselves.
Mrs Ronke Adeniyi, Director, Le Poshe Schools, said girls needed safe spaces where they would not feel insecured and judged to help foster their self-esteem.
Adeniyi, who is also a family relationship expert, said many parents were raising unkind, mean and wicked girls because the children were insecure and lacked good self-esteem.
“Parents need to spend more time building their girl child; we must ensure that girls are strong enough and know who they are.
“It is important we make time for these girls that we are relatable so they can trust us,” she said.
Mrs Fateema Mohammed, a girl child advocate, cautioned mothers against leaving the nurturing of their children, particularly their daughters to relatives, nannies and house helps.
Mohammed, who is also the Chairperson of Fateema Mohammed Foundation, said the mentality and ideologies of those relations might not align with the future parents have for their children.
“You may be shocked that even the relatives you trust your children with will begin to tell them hateful things about you.
“They inculcate a lot of hate into these children, a lot of pain and this makes the children revolting and aggressive,” she said.
