By Maria Famakinwa
The 2023 edition of the Bemore Summer Boot camp has been declared opened by the Ondo State Acting Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, at Mabest Academy, Akure, Ondo State.
While declaring the ceremony opened, the Acting Governor who doubled as the Chairman of the occasion specially applauded the First Lady of the State Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu for championing a cause to change gender narratives in world over.
Aiyedatiwa who described BEMORE initiative which started 2017 has a transforming programme that has been building gender gap and potential, urged the participants to utilize every skill learnt to better their lives.
His words: “BEMORE initiative appear to be the most potent machinery deployed by Mrs Anyanwu-Akeredolu to impact the life of a girl-child. We want to acknowledge the First Lady whose radical vision birthed BEMORE to promote the principle of gender balancing in a society rooted with gender stereotypes.
“The initiative which started six years ago, with the aim of bridging gender parity in Science, Technology, Mathematics and Entrepreneurship (STEM+E) has continued to impact participants positively and graduating girls who are problem solvers.I congratulate the BEMOME girls and enjoy them to impact the society positively with the knowledge acquired.”
In the words of BEMORE founder and the First Lady of Ondo State, Arabinrin Anyanwu-Akeredolu, who spoke via virtual revealed that over 3,000 young girls have been trained in various skills since inception of BEMORE in 2017.
She explained that BEMORE was birthed to close the widened gender gap in STEM+E by empowering young Nigerian girls in critical areas of science and technology while creating opportunities to help them improve on their lives and make meaningful contributions to the socio- economic development in their respective communities.
Her words: ” In the last six years, I have treasured this moment and it’s bounty harvest it affords me the chance to yearly re-give myself to a new set of sterling Nigerian girls through this incredible platform. This, for me, is an exceptional opportunity to build these promising girls into confident, competent and worthy women who, in the fullness of time, will rewrite the narrative around womanhood.”
Mrs Akeredolu urged the girls to see BEMOME as a rare opportunity to change their trajectory of life for good and also move ahead to become change agents within the two weeks of their training and be the light the world needs by being resolute about reaching their goals.
Speaking on the topic: “Addressing Nutrition and Food Security in Nigeria- A Call to Action” Dr. Mbang Kooffreh-Ada, emphasized the need to eat right for good health. She said: “Lack of access to nutritious food and essential nutrients leads to stunted growth, wasting and a weakened immune system.
“Lack of good nutrition also contributes to nearly half of all child deaths, that is more than three million children each year. The main indicator of childhood malnutrition is stunting hence, the need to embrace balanced diet.”
The State Commissioner of Local Government, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, Commissioner of Sport, Mr Dele Ologun, OSOPADEC Secretary, Mr Victor Koledayo among others in their goodwill messages congratulated Mrs Akeredolu for birthing a project that that will outlived her and urged the participants to be good ambassadors of BEMORE.
