Go Into The World And Conquer, Ondo Fmr First Lady Charges BeMore Graduands
Graduands of the 2023 Ondo BeMore Summer Boot Camp have been charged to find solutions to the myraids of challenges confronting humanity with the knowledge and skills inculcated in them.
Founder of Bemore Empowered Girls Foundation and wife of Ondo State Governor, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu gave the charge on Saturday, August 26 at the Closing/Graduation ceremony of this year’s edition of the annual programme.
The ceremony held at Mabest Academy, Omolayo Estate, Oke-Ijebu Akure, the Ondo State capital.
She emphasized the need for the graduands to square up their shoulders, take charge of their lives and deploy the skills they acquired at the training programme to better the lots of humanity.
Mrs Akeredolu said; “I join the Bemore family to remind my brand new Bemore Techy Girls of the need to keep your heads high up; of the beauty of being women on your own terms; of the primacy of deploying the skills acquired to live above board and help humanity and of the special joy in giving back to your community like the Bemore Sisters Network is doing. Go ye to the world and conquer!”.
She described the girls as the ‘bricks for building a virile, fair and gender balanced society’.
According to her, the programme has churned out more than 3,000 young tech girls, who are making waves across the globe.
The Ondo First Lady disclosed of the plan to build a befitting permanent site for BeMore girls and solicited assistance from well-meaning citizens, government, corporate bodies and donor agencies in making the edifice a reality.
She further disclosed that a land had been acquired at Emure-Ile along Owo Road, adding that the 2024 edition of the boot camp is planned to be held at the permanent site.
The First Lady expressed her profound gratitude to Mabest Academy which has played host to the Boot Camp for two consecutive times.
She also thanked the Technical Partners namely Ashdam Solar and Matrix Technologies, Matrons, Assistant Matrons and Facilitators as well as Sponsors for their invaluable contributions to the success of the programme.
Also speaking, the Acting Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Aiyetidawa noted that the participating girls were going home completely transformed and empowered by the skills inculcated in them in Digital, Renewable Energy, Entrepreneurship and Leadership.
He stated that the training has fortified the girls to take charge of their lives and future.
Hon Aiyedatiwa enjoined the girls never to succumb to gender discrimination, religious/cultural biases and other forms of gender stereotypes.
The Acting Governor also lauded his boss, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, sponsors and donors as well as parents for supporting the programme which he said has made indelible impact in the lives of girl-children in Ondo State.
In her speech, the 2023 valedictorian, Aina Faith attributed her outstanding performance to concentration, focus and determination to excel during the training.
The 15-year-old daughter of a Pastor said she would apply the knowledge and skills she acquired in Information Communication Technology, ICT and baking to impact her world positively
She also promised to give back to the society by training other girls in ICT and baking so that they could lead responsible and respectable lifestyles.
There were goodwill messages from representatives of organizations such as Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, ISOPADEC, Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB and a sponsor, Mrs Chinelo Bally.
All of them lauded the boot camp and its initiator, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu for the empowerment of girl-children in the country.
They hailed not only the skills and knowledge imparted in the girls but also the confidence they exude after undergoing the training.
Highlights of the ceremony were dance, exhibition of products of the girls, Taekwondo Display, Poetry Presentation, Breast Health Talk/Sekem Dance, Auction sale of art works and presentation of certificates, laptops and solar home systems to the 350 participants.
