By: Ade Adeleke
The 2021 BeMore Summer BootCamp has been concluded with a funfair and with a clear message of brighter future for girl children who participated in this year’s two weeks event.
Addressing guests, parents and BeMore Girls during the Closing Ceremony held at the Main Auditorium, Federal University of Technology, FUTA, Akure, on Saturday 25th September, 2021, the Founder of the Initiative and First Lady of Ondo state, Chief (Mrs) Betty-Anyanwu Akeredolu, said priority must be given to education of all girl children to save the future of mankind and the country.
SUNSHINETRUTH had two weeks ago reported the opening ceremony of the 2021 BEMORE SUMMER BOOTCAMP held at Ondo State Public Service Training Institute, Ilara-Mokin.
At the closing ceremony, the Digital Mama, charged the beneficiaries of this year’s BeMore Summer BootCamp to stay focus and make use of all what they were taught during the two weeks programme to secure a better future.
The First Lady said the girls had been taught on how to become selfless Change Agents by making service their watchword in order to become leaders in the nearest future.
Arabinrin Akeredolu who described former American First Lady, Hillary Clinton as her role model in changing gender narration and in the advocacy of girls education, disclosed that over 2000 young secondary girls had been trained in ICT, SOLAR Technology and other life enhancing skills through her initiative.
She expressed appreciation to those who had been supporting her BEMORE vision since inception especially her a former Chairman of OSOPADEC, Hon Gbenga Edema.
The First Lady who blamed the current insecurity in the country on the collapse of many families, urged well-meaning Nigerians to join and support her BEMORE and other life impacting initiated by her for prosperous nation.
“Now we are wondering why insecurity is becoming more popular in Nigeria by the day; it’s simple! A country that allows proliferation of sexist family laws, unequal property rights, early marriage for girls, patrilocal marriage, polygamy, son preference, violence against women and legal indulgence of it; such country is almost certain to experience violent instability. If indeed we are concerned about the prosperity and security of this country called Nigeria, we must begin to invest in our girls.
“I am building an army of female technology leaders to serve Nigeria and solve Nigerian problems. They will not become professionals for export, good only for sending back dollars to parents and relatives “tufiakwa”. We have instilled a sense of patriotism. They will become “a breed without greed” in words and deeds. They will use their talents, knowledge and skills to serve Nigeria not the Western world”, she reaffirmed just as she charged them charged to work so hard, believing in themselves to make her proud,” She said.
BEMORE GIRLS ARE FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY —Ondo Governor
Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on Saturday declared that participants in the BeMore Summer Boot Camp for Girls are the future of the country, particularly with the knowledge acquired in Information Communication Technology (ICT), Solar Technology and other life-enhancing skills.
Governor Akeredolu, who charged the girls to wear their BeMore badges with pride, said they must reflect their knowledge by effecting changes in their environment.
The Governor who spoke at the closing ceremony of the BeMore Summer Boot camp, applauded the resilience, perseverance and vision of the founder of the BeMore Summer Boot Camp and his wife, Arabinrin Betty-Anyanwu Akeredolu, and lauded her passion for the well-being of the girl child.
He urged the girls to constantly improve on the knowledge acquired during the two weeks intensive training.
The Governor said: “I have found out that what you are here for is something you can never forget in your life time. Wear your badge of BEMORE with pride.
“To be a BeMore girl is to display knowledge and integrity. A BEMORE girl is the future of this state and the country. You are our future. I know your activities mostly have to do with science and technology, but you are our future.
“Return to your locality and conquer the world. The world is at your footsteps. The world is for you to take. Some of you have gone through this, you have to improve on what you take away. Two weeks is never enough. You have to go back and improve on it. What you have learnt, go back home and improve.
“Those of you from the riverine area, try and put solar in your household. Those making gele, hand bangs, my charge to all of you, because you have had the opportunity of being part of the 2021 boot camp, go back and use your knowledge to change, modify and reinvent a number of things that we live with.
“Look at your environment and improve your homes. That’s the way people will know that you are a Bemore girl.”
Governor Akeredolu, who said the BEMORE initiative is a citizen’s program, stressed that it is a challenge that must not be left alone for the First Lady.
“This is another challenge that we will not leave for you alone. This is a challenge that all of us must give more support and ensure that we have a permanent BEMORE camp in Ondo State. It will be a citizen’s program,” the Governor said.
Also speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu represented by a Director in the ministry, Yemi Gbadegesin, expressed the willingness of the federal government to support initiatives that were impacting positively in the lives of young Nigerians.
The Minister who described Mrs Akeredolu as a dogged woman who is in the forefront of advocating gender issue, girls’ education and empowerment of women, commended her and enjoined her not to be discouraged.
The highlight of the closing ceremony included Exhibition of some successes recorded during the camping, Breast Health Talk, Sekem Dance by BEMORE Girls, presentation of Laptop and certificates to 2021 participants and Arts Auction among others.
No fewer than 368 techy girls on Saturday 25th September, 2021 received laptops distributed by the First Lady of Ondo State, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu- Akeredolu at the closing ceremony marking the end of the two weeks training of the BEMORE Summer Bootcamp.
