Bank chief calls for investment to reduce inequality

The Managing Director of Unity Bank Plc, Mrs. Tomi Somefun, has called for increased investment in girl-child education to bridge the gender gap and reduce inequality.

Somefun who said this in her message on this year’s International Women’s Day said every effort to reduce inequality should be rooted in the education of the girl-child, adding that education remains the most potent approach to empowering women to take a bold step that would challenge the status quo and make a mark in the society.

Somefun said, “Although female school enrolment has improved over the past decade in Nigeria, female adult literacy rate still lags at 59 percent. In some parts of the country, millions of girls still have little access to education resulting in a rampant increase in child marriages.”

Citing a recent UNICEF report on the impact of COVID-19, she said over 10 million girls are at risk of becoming child brides as many have lost their parents while some parents’ livelihoods can no longer support girl child education.