Girls Voices Lagos -GVI LAGOS, 17, Lawal Street, Off Oweh Street, Fadeyi Yaba, Lagos (2025)

26/08/2023

WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY

Complied by Okolie Angel Isioma ~a girl child advocate.

Women's Equality Day is celebrated in the United States on August 26th to commemorate the 1920 adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment (Amendment XIX) to the United States Constitution which prohibits the states and the federal government from denying the right to vote as citizens of the United States on the basis of s*x.

It was first celebrated in 1971,designated by Congress in 1973 and is proclaimed each year by the United States President.

The color for the day is WHITE and PURPLE which was adopted as symbols of their movement, since people wore the colors as a sign of solidarity with the figh for gender equality.

TO ALL WOMEN AND ELEGIBLE FEMALE VOTERS.

HAPPY WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY.

26/07/2023

BE YOU!

Written by Okolie Angel Isioma, a girl child advocate.

"Every oscillatory motion is periodic but not every periodic motion is oscillatory."

Periodic motion is the motion of an object that repeats its path regularly after equal interval of time.

There are 2 types of periodic motion.
1. Oscillatory motion: It is the periodic motion in which objects moves back and forth from a fixed point.

2. Non-oscillatory motion: It is the periodic motion in which objects doesn't move back and forth from a fixed point.

The above is under Simple Harmonic Motion in Physics but let's relate it to students.

"Every student is purpose-driven but not all succeed at the end."

Prof. Emmanuel always advise us(the students) to be focused and whatever suffer we face as students shows we have a bright tomorrow if only all distractions are avoided and the main goal is achieved.

As a student, in any educational level, there are certain goals we must have set up to accomplish. Knowing yourself and being you, speaks alot.

A.

19/08/2022

HUMANITARIAN-ANGELS IN DISGUISE.

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'" - Martin Luther King Jr.

Humanitarian is a person who works to improve the lives and living conditions of other people.

Humanitarianism is an active belief in the value of human life, whereby humans practice benevolent treatment and provide assistance to other humans to reduce suffering and improve the conditions of humanity for moral, altruistic and emotional reasons.

On 19 August 2003, a bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killed 22 humanitarian aid workers, including the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello. Five years later, the GENERAL ASSEMBLY adopted a resolution designating 19th August as World Humanitarian Day.

📌 World Humanitarian Day celebrated on 19th August every year, recognizes the work of the thousands of humanitarian workers worldwide who are delivering vital aid to communities in need.

There is only one thing which can save this world and that is love and care. So always help a needy one to make this world even better. HAPPY WORLD HUMANITARIAN DAY.

18/08/2022

ABUSE(CONT'D)
TYPES OF ABUSE

Written by Okolie Angel Isioma - a girl child advocate.

5. FINANCIAL ABUSE:In this type of violence, the man of the house brings up bad news that made him not to have money thereby making the woman to spend all her money and income in the family's upkeep. Once she has exhausted all her money, he comes out superior and can do anything to make the woman come back to him begging because he feels on top.

UP NEXT: SPIRITUAL ABUSE

17/08/2022

ABUSE(Cont'd).
TYPES OF ABUSE.

Written by Okolie Angel Isioma - a girl child advocate.

4.PSYCHOLOGICAL VIOLENCE:This type of violence deals with the mental state of the victim. The abuser does things that gets to the mental state of the victim and then intimidates the victim to have full control over the victim. This could also be linked to Emotional violence.

31/05/2022

AN IMPACTER OF 1200 GIRLS.

Written by Okolie Angel Isioma - a girl child advocate.

I am proud to say that I was able to make a difference in the lives of 1200 girls in Wesley Girls Junior Secondary School, Yaba. The experience was an amazing and fun, from the first day to the last day with the girls.
When I started, I never had issue with getting along with the girls because I have been doing it right from my Junior Secondary School days as Mathematics Prep representative for my class to student teacher in my Senior Secondary School and then sensitizing girls in various communities through my advocacy outreach.
At first, the girls co-operated and were loving but as time progressed, they started showing their true colors. Due to my experience I was able to get to them and also with the help of my partner as well. The memories will forever be in depth and not forgotten.

Thanks to Cummins Inc , Action Health Incorporated and the Administration of the school. It was an amazing one.

07/04/2022

HUMANS AND PLANET EARTH.

Written by Okolie Angel Isioma - a girl child advocate.

World Health Day was one of the first official acts of the World Health Organization which came into force on the 7th April, 1948. It's initial date was 22nd July 1948 but changed to 7th April to encourage students participation.

📌 The aim of this year's celebration is in-line with the theme "Our Planet, Our Health" which is 5o direct global attention on the actions needed to keep humans and the planet healthy.

As all these are being put in place for our good and betterment. We should all endeavor to play our role in living healthy from our meals to lifestyle to our daily activities. Thereby, making our body fit and healthy and also making the planet health and healing its old wounds for us to be at peace with the planet.

'A healthy body is the guest chamber of the soul; a sick, it's prison.'-Francis Bacon.

HAPPY WORLD HEALTH DAY🌍🌏🌎

10/01/2022

A CRY 😭 😭 OF A GIRL CHILD

Written by Okolie Angel Isioma - a girl child advocate.

"Can this be real?"
No, no!
wipe your eyes,
perhaps, you may have been dreaming.

Is not a dream,
This is reality.
But wait ooo
How did we get here?
Is this really Nigeria or Venezuela?
Is heart breaking 💔💔,
cries!!! 😭😭

Mother is crying, father couldn't hold his tears again,
this isn't like in THINGS FALL APART, where a brave man don't cry.
A tragedy has fallen,
"Amaka was picked with tricycle";they said,
"By unknown men on her way to school,
it's now two days, no where to be found,"

Mother is inconsolable,
"Report to police!"
Suggested the neighborhood.
"Wait for 24 hours,
she must have visited her boyfriend.";claimed the Police officer.

Hmmmm!
Wait ooo!
Where is that noise,
coming from.
Today again 😩😩,
what is it, say something naw?
A loud scream of an agony woman agony.
Isn't that Aishat mother's voice?

I ran to the scene as a girl child advocate,
what's happening?
Another tragedy😟☹️.

Mrs Ojo sent her daughter,
Aishat, a 13 year old, to get things for lunch at nearby market.
She's no way to be found,
another report to the police station.

"She is a girl child in her teens,
go home and wait,
we have gotten series of cases like that,
where eventually, we found out she was with her boyfriend,
after 24 hours, come back,
hope you know what it takes ?"

Mother screamed;
"My child has no boyfriend!
She's still a virgin!
She usually goes to the same market and returns in 15-30mins!
I disagree with you!"

This is terrible,
I assume it's another kidnapping case,
Amaka and Aishat haven't been found,
It's four days now.

Investigation suspended,
24 hours have gone by,
Cause no money to fuel the police van.

What can a poor carpenter, Amaka's father, or
a poor Plumber, Aishat's father do,
as the money requested,
can't be gotten in a day's work.

Some months later,
Mummy Kemi dropped some information,
to her children,
of 5,7 and 10 years.

Left for the market to get things for dinner,
that's all the children knew about her,
no account regarding her way about.

Is 12pm, Kemi's mother has not returned.
Tension was high, who could eat and sleep,
in such scenario.
Around 2am,Kemi's father phone rang,
his wife is on the phone,
"I don't know where I am,
I only know that my legs and hands are tied,
I just woke up from long sleep.

I can hear someone discussing on phone,
saying the parts are ready and some women are also here"

That's another kidnapping case😩😞,
of a mother of three,
he rushed to the police station,
to give account of the incident.

Returned with the same response,
hoping on God.
After 2 days, Mummy Kemi returned,
to the glory of God,here's her testimony.

At the moment she was to be slaughtered,
her menstrual cycle started,
the slaughterman screamed;
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Bad market, what are we going to do ooo
What shall we tell Baba?"

She has started seeing her me**es,
she has been stained all over,
it's a taboo,
as she has defiled the sacrifice.

The other two diaagreed;
"NO! , it will spoil work for Baba,
he is a nice man,
we can't pay him evil with good."

They decided to throw her off,
to find another scapegoat for replacement,
that's how Mummy Kemi,
returned after 2 days.

These and many more,
are the tragedic stories,
happening in my country,
and all are claimed to be well.

Their target is the girl child,
female children and mothers.
What's their offence and crime?

Now, fear on everyone,
movement is restricted,
on every girl child and their mothers alike.

"Be careful when you are going out!
If someone gets down,
for you to enter Keke,
don't enter!"

Don't enter Sieana,
don't do these,
don't do that.
That sounds like a breach to freedom,
but rather, it's for the safety of a girl child,

An information passed by the parents,
shouldn't be violated,
but a country that violates the right of a girl child,
is gradually, introducing feminicide era.

Every girl child has a right,
in one accord, we echo;
"Don't I have the right?
To go to church and mosque alone?
Go to school and study with others?

Has freedom of movement,
been erased from the constitution?
Don't I have the right to dress how I like?
Attend the school I want?

Why am I targeted?
Where are the Neighborhood watchmen?
What's going on?

Where are the Crime fighters?
What's going on?
Do we still have hope?
What's going on?

My leaders,
Have we committed any wrong to be a girl or a woman?
What's going on?

Haven't my leaders heard of it?
What's going on?
Why are they silent?
What's going on?
Why are our parts been sold to Alhajis?
What's going on?
What are they using it for?
What's going on?"

N.B:This is what is happening in my area, that has been placed in poem.
Every girl child, share until it gets to the right person.
Thank you 🥰

16/12/2021

YOUR 👀 NEEDS YOUR ATTENTION AND CARE.

Written by Okolie Angel Isioma - a girl child advocate.

While scrolling through my tiktok feeds, I came across a video which caught my interest.
A lady was walking with her dog when suddenly she was been attacked by two guys whose intention was to bully her but she was able to defend herself. The shocking part was when she was asked if she was blind, her response was;"I am visually impaired".

Thinking about it, what does it mean to be blind and what does it mean to be visually impaired? I made some findings and here is my discovery.

📌 Visual impairment also known as vision impairment or vision loss is a decreased ability to see to a degree that causes problems not fixable by usual means such as glasses. - Wikipedia

📌Blindness is the state of being unable to see due to injury, disease or genetic condition. - ibvi blog

There are 4 levels of vision impairment and blindness. They are;partially sighted, low vision, legally blind and totally blind.
- PARTIALLY SIGHTED means a person has partial vision either in one or both eyes.
- LOW VISION refers to a severe visual impairment in which visual acuity is 20/70 or poorer in the better seeing eye and can't be improved with glasses or contacts.
- LEGALLY BLIND means a person has a corrected vision of 20/200 in their best seeing eye and it can be corrected with the use of visual aids such as glasses.
- TOTALLY BLIND refers to a complete loss of sight.

📌 It is considered improper and offensive to call a blind or visually impaired person, BLIND even the ones that can see with their eyes consider it as an insult. So, words like;"'He is visually impaired,' 'he has lost his sight,' 'The person with blindness' and so on can be used.

📌 To check the state of your eyes, a Visual Acuity is conducted. It is commonly known as clarity of vision but technically rates an examinee's ability to recognize small details with precision. - Wikipedia.

AUTHOR'S NOTE.
The eyes is one of the five senses and is also one of the important parts of the body which performs its own specific function. Endeavor to take care of your eyes at all times. To be sure your eye is OK, go for a check up at the hospital or a clinic. Avoid bringing hazards to yourself with your own hands, don't use visual aids if not instructed by the doctor to use them.

18/11/2021

PHILOSOPHY ALSO BRINGS PEACE AND TOLERANCE.

Written by Okolie Angel Isioma - a girl child advocate.

In 2005,the UNESCO General Conference proclaimed that World Philosophy Day would be celebrated every third Thursday of November. In establishing World Philosophy Day, UNESCO strives to promote an international culture of philosophical debate that respects human dignity and diversity. The Day encourages academic exchange and highlights the contribution of philosophical knowledge in addressing global issues.

The day was first observed in November 21st, 2002 to recognize and honor philosophical reflections all over the world. The day was officially observed worldwide as World Philosophy Day from 2005.

📌 The theme for this year is;"different interactions of human beings with their social, cultural, geographical and political environment, with the underlying objective to better understanding the contribution of philosophy in our contemporary societies and the challenges they face" in the wake of the pandemic.

The significance of the celebration of World Philosophy Day lies in the fact that the discipline of philosophy fosters intercultural dialogue, teaches tolerance and respect amid the society. Practicing the exercise of thinking coupled with the reasoned confrontation of opinions, philosophy creates a healthy environment that has the potential to bring about crucial changes in the society.

📌 The father of Western Philosophy is Socrates of Athens.

📌 Let's all look into this and work towards it, peace and tolerance can be achieved through application of Philosophy into our daily lives.

HAPPY WORLD PHILOSOPHY DAY

14/11/2021

DIABETES AND WHAT IT ENTAILS.

Written by OKOLIE ANGEL ISIOMA - a girl child advocate.

World Diabetes Day(WDD) was created in 1991 by International Diabetes Federation(IDF) and the World Health Organization(WHO) in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat posed by diabetes.
On 20th December 2006, United Nations also adopted this day and marked it yearly on 14th November. The day was suggested for International Diabetes Day to honor Sir Frederick Banting who along with Charles Best and John James Richard Macleod paved the path of discovering Insulin in 1992.

It's logo is the blue circle which was adopted in year 2007 by United Nations. It signifies diabetes awareness campaigns across the world.

There are two kinds of this disease. They are;
1. DIABETES also known as DIABETES MELLITUS.
It is when your pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin to control the amount of glucose in your body.

2. DIABETES INSIPIDUS
It happens when your kidneys produce a lot of extra urine. Normally, they filter your blood stream to make about a quart or 2 each day. When you have diabetes insipid us, it's more like 3 to 20 quarts and it's mostly like water.
Along with this two kinds of diabetes, there are different types of diabetes which can be traced from family background, age and other factors.

📌 The symptoms include; Increased thirst, weak or tired feeling, blurred vision, numbness or tingling in the hands or feet, slow-healing sores or cuts, unplanned weight loss, frequent urination, frequent unexplained infections, dry mouth etc.

📌 People are encouraged to eat healthy diets like almonds, kidney beans, yoghurt, fruits and vegetables, exercise regularly and also run blood test at your convenient time.

📌 For the diabetics, they are advised to go on healthy diets, exercise regularly, take medication and insulin, never miss your hospital appointments and be cautious of your health at all times, avoid smoking if necessary.

HAPPY WORLD DIABETES DAY TO ALL DIABETES PATIENTS ROUND THE WORLD.

22/08/2021

SELF ESTEEM

Written by Okolie Angel Isioma - a girl child advocate.

The confidence in one's own worth or abilities is called SELF ESTEEM. In Psychology,self esteem is used to describe a person's overall subjective sense of personal worth or value. According to Forbes. com site 2018, the gender with the less self esteem is the women, generally men have higher levels of self esteem than women.
There are 2 kinds of self esteem
-Low Self Esteem
-High Self Esteem

Low self esteem is when someone lacks confidence about who they are and what they do.
WHAT CAUSES LOW SELF ESTEEM?
- unhappy childhood,
- lack of confidence due to poor family background
-ongoing stressful life events such as relationship breakdown or financial trouble and so on.

SIGNS TO KNOW WHEN SOMEONE HAS LOW SELF ESTEEM.
-feeling unloved and unwanted.
-negative self talk and comparisons to others.
-fear of failure and embrassment.
-not being able to deal with normal levels of frustration and so on.

CHARACTERISTICS OF LOW SELF ESTEEM.
-depression, anxiety, low mood, neglect of own needs particularly emotional ones etc.

The High self esteem is just the opposite of low self esteem when a person has positive belief about who they are and what they do.
Women who suffer from abuse and violence aren't meant to have low self esteem but their abusers spend time in belittling or downgrading them and making them feel bad about themselves which gives room for them to be abused and violated with ease.
Everyone has a role to play in this. We have to make those who are being affected to become unaffected. Having people with high self esteem can go a long way in the development of the country.

Thank you and remain blessed

15/08/2021

WHAT GIRLS GO THROUGH.

A write up by Okolie Angel Isioma - a girl child advocate.

I followed my mother to market (Ilepo) to get food stuff for the family, just at the place we were to count some oranges before we round it up, a girl of 17 years old with her friends were caught in the screen eating ribs at the rendezvous with a group of 8 guys at their early 20s. "You know what that means" ? " Is not yet time mother preaches".
This particular girl Islam by religious affiliation attracted the attention of an elderly Yoruba woman who was also buying some oranges from the orange seller.
The elderly woman at her 60s who was at the orange line with us at the same time heard every bit of their filty immoral conversations. I heard it too so unholy . The woman beckoned one of the girls, started cross questioning her. As the girl began to narrate her story, tears almost dropped from my eyes before I realized that I was in the market.

Actually they came from Sango to Ilepo market to look for work with her twin sister and her younger sister. They are in SS3 and needed money to register for WASSCE exam and their other needs . Her mother remarried immediately her father died and sent them away to their grandma's place. Most times she feels bored and goes with her friend to play with those guys that she was seen with earlier.

This and many more are what girls face in the society with no one to help them.

Many children and teenagers are blessed with good parents who have their children in mind but some aren't that lucky. So if you are blessed with good parents, cherish them and don't make them sad because there are some out there that which their parents are good like yours.

21/03/2021

DIFFERENCIATION
Written by Okolie Angel Isioma - a girl child advocate.

I stumbled on something in Mathematics early this morning that I once found in Further Maths, "DIFFERENCIATION". Yes, DIFFERENCIATION finding the answer to the Problem : dx/dy means y in respect to x. This aroused my logical thinking that
in placenta mammals, the presence of a Y chromosome determines male s*x while the presence of X chromosome determines female s*x. Now pause for a while and reflect on why the Westerners practice " Ladies First etiquette", (that is a phrase encouraging perceived polite gentlemanliness, allowing the ladies to go before the men). Because it will always be" Y in respect of X " and X must definitely leads before a Y, ( XY). Summarily, say no to" Gender Inequality" 🤫🤫🤫. Apology to all my misconceived friends, I am only reviewing DIFFERENCIATION in Mathematics and Further Mathematics.

11/03/2021

Have you recently completed Secondary School ? Between the ages of 16 and 19years? Want an opportunity to develop your skills?
Here is an opportunity for you to Intern with Action Health Incorporated

Apply via https://buff.ly/38shShc
NOTE: * Be committed to working full-time from April 2021 - December 2021;
*Live within close proximity of the Jibowu – Yaba area of Lagos Mainland.
Deadline: March 20, 2021

08/03/2021

CELEBRATION OF WOMEN ACHIEVERS.

Written by Okolie Angel Isioma - a girl child advocate.

The history of International Women's Day can be traced back to February 28,1909. The socialist party of America had designated March 8,1909 in the honour of the garment worker's strike in New York. However, the term 'International Women's Day' was coined later. The first official worldwide celebrations happened in 1911,when women from several European countries participated in demonstrations, also several events which occurred like women protesting for equal and fair treatment and many others made the United Nations to start the celebration of women from 1967 onwards.
The day celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women from all walks of life, while highlighting the day - to - day problems they face on the professional environment.
It is a day to acknowledge and make people aware of women's rights and gender equality, parity and call to action for accelerating women's equality.
Women who I celebrate today are those who are achievers in their various professions where their men colleagues look down on them as weak and fable. Women in the STEM WORLD, Women in politics, Women in Economics anid Girls in Science departments especially in Technical Drawing classes.
I celebrate you
Dr. Mrs. Ngozi-Okonjo Iwela. Your achievements have ascertain the height that even we youths are asking you for clues .
I celebrate you today late Dr. Dora Akinwuyi, and late Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh. The memories you left are still fresh.
I celebrate you Dr. Salamat Ahuoiza Aliu. The only neurosurgery female doctor in Nigeria.
I celebrate you Mrs Olabisi Oreofe Ughabor, the only female Mathematician in Nigeria.
I use this media to celebrate the only two SS1 girls in science department 2021 of Ijaiye Ojokoro Senior College , Ifeoma Okolie and Precious Oyebuchi, who are making us proud in Technical Drawing class. Also Ali Taiwo and Okolie Angel Isioma, the only two SS3 girls in Technical Drawing class of Ijaiye Housing Estate Senior Grammar School.
Women in Nigeria politics : the inequality is of the highest order, our men have seen it as their birth rights and refuse to let us have a trace. I look forward to when men will see us as their sisters, wives, mothers, aunties, nices, friends and colleagues who have come to make the difference that only those born with womb could perhaps do better if not best rather than seeing us as weak, senseless house wives who belong to the other room.

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

03/03/2021

CARE FOR WILDLIFE REDUCES AND CURES HUMAN DISEASES.

Written by Okolie Angel Isioma - a girl child advocate.

World Wide life Day is observed on 3rd March in order to celebrate the flora(plants) and fauna(animals) of the world and also raise awareness about them. It was decided by the United Nations General Assembly on 20th December, 2013 at its 68th session that the World Wide life Day will be celebrated on 3rd March.

Wildlife are living things and especially mammals, birds, and fishes that are neither human nor domesticated.

IMPORTANCE OF WILDLIFE
1. Wildlife maintains balance in ecosystem.
2. Wildlife provides nutrients to humans.
3. A lot of medicine comes from wildlife.
4. Protecting wildlife and their habitats mean fewer diseases that affect humans.
5. It is a source of livelihood.
6. It has cultural significance.
7. It is important for the economy.
8. Being around wildlife and nature is good for mental health.

The theme for World Wildlife Day 2021 is;'Forests and Livelihood:Sustaining People and Planet'. Creating a web chain between the people and nature and also having the sense of protecting the wildlife from all forms of attacks and conserving it effectively to sustain humanity.

Do you know?

Of the 252 essential chemicals that have been selected by the World Health Organization, 11.1% come from plants and 8.7% from animals (Marques 1997). Also of the150 prescription drugs currently in use in the United States of America, 27 have animal origin(World Resources Institute 2000).

HAPPY WORLD WILDLIFE DAY.

Girls Voices Lagos -GVI LAGOS