Mrs Ojiugo Ozigbo, the wife of the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 6 Anambra state governorship election, has chosen this year’s birthday celebration to put smiles on the faces of schoolgirls in the state.
Mrs Ozigbo made this known through a statement personally signed by her and made available to the press on Saturday, September 25, 2021.
Ozigbo, who is marking her 48th birthday, revealed that she focuses her philanthropy on children of school age because she believes that it is the surest way to create a better future for all.
“On my birthday every year, I strive to achieve two things,” Mrs Ozigbo said.
“First, I make sure to share my joy with everyone around me, and second, I engage in activities that would leave a positive impact on the lives of others.
“It is already a tradition for me to celebrate my birthday with children as I believe that the child we mould today will determine the future we live in.
“But this year, I have decided to celebrate it with every girl child around the world. I’m specifically choosing the girl child in order to also partake in the celebration of the international day of the girl child.
“The commemoration of the Day of the Girl Child is a very important and well thought out initiative. It’s a day set aside to amplify the voices and rights of girls everywhere.
“It also offers the opportunity to critically evaluate the needs of the girl child in the society and fashion out ways of meeting them.
“This year’s theme; ‘My voice, our equal future’ reimagines a better world inspired and led by adolescent girls.
“As girls grow up, they are faced with gender-based violence, critical needs, access to healthcare, skill acquisition and other unique needs.
“Hence, as part of my contribution to the celebration this year, I have decided to reach out to one thousand girls drawn from 20 secondary schools in Anambra State.
“During this interaction, I hope to hear their stories, share mine with them and ignite in them the zeal to strive towards becoming women of substance,” Ojiugo disclosed.
Highlighting one of the major challenges facing girls today especially in our third world nation, Mrs Ojiugo regretted that young girls no longer have affordable access to sanitary pads, one of the most critical needs of every young woman.
She recalled how, during her adolescent years, things were relatively good and a sanitary pad was readily available and affordable. “Today, it is now a luxurious commodity, available for only the rich” she added.
Consequently, Mrs Ojiugo, as a part of her birthday celebration, has also made available sanitary pads to be distributed to young girls through the VCO Foundation’s partnership with Gift-a- Pad, an initiative by Frances Ezeanyim.
According to her, is aimed at ensuring that young ladies observe proper hygiene without having to go through severe financial burden.
The selected schools to receive the sanitary pads are St John Of God Secondary School, Awka; Anglican Girls Grammar School, Umunya; St. Peter’s Special Science School, Achina; Girls Secondary School, Amaenyi; Konigin Des Friedens College, Uga; Holy Child Secondary School, Isuofia; Christ The Redeemer College, Amesi; Inland Girls Secondary School, Onitsha; Madonna Girls’ Secondary School, Umunze; and Ado Girls Secondary School, Onitsha.
Others are Maria Regina Model Comprehensive Secondary School, Nnewi; Holy Family Secondary School, Igboukwu; Mater Amabilis Secondary School, Umuoji; Urban Girls Secondary School, Ekwulobia; Anglican Girls Secondary School, Ogidi; Fr. Tansi Memorial Secondary School, Aguleri; Government Technical College, Umuchu; Queen of the Rosary College, Onitsha; Girls High School, Agulu; and Msgr. Maduka Memorial Secondary School, Ekwulobia.
Mrs Ozigbo urged good spirited individuals to always look out for possible ways to partner in providing these and many other hygiene products for our young girls as a way of contributing to the amazing women we hope for them to become in the future.
Mrs Ozigbo sits on the Board of Trustees of the Valentine Chineto Ozigbo (VCO) Foundation founded by her husband. The non-profit has positively touched the lives of over 300,000 people in Anambra State where Ozigbo, a respected business leader and multiple award-winning global CEO, is widely regarded as the frontrunner in the race for governor.
