In the past, our fore-fathers celebrate the birth of male children with great joy because they believe they were going to be more useful especially on their farms and also take after them, that is, continue with the family’s name.

Then, the girl child was not regarded as a child as the male child is sent to school while his female counterparts were meant to sit at home to take care of the house chores and by extension later converted to farming tools since the males are going to school.

But as time goes on, the females began to take the shine off their male counterparts. Some families who have only female children were forced to send them to school and majority of them did not disappoint hence the results we are seeing today with many excelling in their various chosen fields.

Meanwhile, when the families that kept their female children at home as nanny or house maids heard what female children are turning into, they quickly followed suit.

Today, the likes of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Mrs Ezekwesili, Mrs Alakija, Hajia Amina, Mrs Danjuma, Chimamanda and a host of others are the toast of the world. They are women of substances, rated and respected at the world stage and they have not disappointed.

In some families, women are the ones taking the lead even where they have male children. Gone are the days when parents will be afraid of not having male children, today, people are no longer bothered, they are satisfied with whichever sex of children that the Almighty gives them.

However, pressure continued to mount on the female children especially those that are first born of the family. Many of them who came from poor homes who lost their fathers were forced to take over the responsibility of the house and those who cannot shoulder the burden all alone are being forced to go into illicit activities to get brisk money, even though it is not an excuse.

Patricia who spoke to our correspondent said he left school to prostitute not because he loves the job but because she has younger ones to cater for as the firstborn and “father” of the house.

She said, she doesn’t want any of them to do the job she is doing hence she is hustling just to make them comfortable and go to school. That is the story of many girls our correspondent came across, prostituting.

Although, she has left the job because of the many risks involved in the trade. She now washes dishes to feed in a restaurant. She said she was tired of the job and wants to settle down. She narrated how she lost her friend to ritualists who mutilated her.

She also claimed that another girl died of HIV/AIDS, even though there is now drug to manage it. Patricia said her friend didn’t know on time because they were carelessly doing self-medication, treating malaria until she passed. According to her, “Our madam refused to give her money to go to the hospital, that was why she died. I watched her die in my hands.”

There is no doubt that pressure is too much on the girl children in Nigeria. One wonders what the responsibility of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and the National Centre for Women Development, NCWD are. These are establishments that seem to be existing just to settle friends and politicians, many young people and women are not beneficiaries, some of them don’t even know that they exist because their impacts are not being felt. They only exist probably to pay salaries and give contracts to their cronies since their establishments.

Recently, the Minister seems to be up and doing, fighting for women but it should go beyond that, offering them skills and empowering them financially, will go a long way. The ministry should spread its tentacles to other state capitals, the few Abuja residents shouldn’t be the only beneficiaries. They should also reach out to the high and mighty, the private sectors to support their programmes so that our future leaders and mothers will stop indulging in illicit activities especially prostitution.

As we speak, we are becoming laughing stocks to other countries because of our inability to cater for our citizens despite having so many resources that other countries don’t have and yet they are doing better.

Meanwhile, when empowering our women financially, we must give them supervisors that will ensure that such monies are judiciously used.

Our religious leaders should also key into this project, carryout skill acquisition and financial empowerment for their members so that they can be useful for themselves and family. Religious houses should go beyond spiritual things and face reality, our youths and mothers need something to be doing to make ends meet. No matter the preaching we do, it doesn’t go anywhere if the person being preached to has not eaten let alone have food at home.

This also goes to the wealthy people in our society, instead of showcasing our wealth to the world on the internet, let’s channel them to help humanity. That is what God appreciates the most, that is why He said in the Holy Book, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” and “Whatever you do to your brother or sister, you are doing it to Him.” That wealth is a privilege not your efforts because God is the one that gives you power (strength), good health and wisdom to get that money and you are expected to be a blessing to others, it is not meant for you and your household alone.

However, once the aforementioned are done, the young girls won’t find prostitution and other illicit vices lucrative anymore.

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