Long-awaited ‘Omo’ novel released, girl-child campaign launched
The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), represented by the Director of Administration Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal NE Calmday, unveiled the Every Child Your Child Advocacy Campaign for the Girl Child on 22 June 18, at Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base, Port Harcourt. The campaign is aimed at sensitizing young girls and stakeholders […]
The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), represented by the Director of Administration Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal NE Calmday, unveiled the Every Child Your Child Advocacy Campaign for the Girl Child on 22 June 18, at Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base, Port Harcourt. The campaign is aimed at sensitizing young girls and stakeholders involved in girl child advocacy on the scourge of prostitution, human trafficking, child labour, child abuse and sexual violence against women.
The ECYC project is Sterling Bank and Explore Africa Foundation’s initiative to promote girl-child education through partnership with the NAF for distribution of 10,000 copies of ‘Omo’, the novel written by Flight Lieutenant Emmanuel Ochogwu Alexander, to NAF secondary schools, as well as 37 other schools across Rivers State.
The book, reviewed by the NAF to be fit for Literature study in schools, was approved as a veritable tool for an effective girl-child campaign in line with the CAS’s drive towards gender equality and implementation of the Federal Government’s affirmative action on women participation and representation.
Described as an action thriller, ‘Omo’ is a 234-page book that critics have called a “page-turner”. It has also been featured on Daily Trust’s list of 2018’s most-anticipated books.
“This careful work of research by the author is something I’ll further convey to the CAS for consideration as a compulsory material for all NAF secondary schools in Nigeria,” AVM Calmday had said while delivering the keynote speech at the event.
Present at the event were senior officers from military and paramilitary organisations, wives of officers’ associations, NGOs, literary enthusiasts, politicians, traditional rulers, lawmakers, the NAF Base PH community, as well as secondary school students.
The high point of the event was the award ceremony for individuals who have contributed immensely to the cause of the girl child in Nigeria.
The CAS, alongside his wife, Hajiya Hafsat Abubakar, National President NAFOWA, were the only winners of the Platinum Omo Girl Child Ambassador Award sponsored by Sterling Bank and Explore Africa Foundation. Other winners include Wing Commander Hafsat Ali, Commandant of AFGCS Abuja for her sterling leadership qualities in mentoring students, as well as philanthropist Barrister Omamuli-Samuels Geraldine, including, a philanthropist and girl rights advocate based in Abuja and UK also received the Omo Gold Award, and others.
The author told Daily Trust that the book is dedicated to Leah Sharibu, and the 26 young Nigerian girls who died while crossing the Mediterranean on 3 November 2017. “It’s also for every girl whose dream and aspirations are threatened,” Alexander added.