FUNAAB 94th Inaugural Lecture Highlights Urgent Call for Investment in Girl-Child Education

Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), held its 94th Inaugural Lecture on October 30, 2024, featuring a compelling address by Prof. Grace Sokoya, a distinguished scholar from the Department of Home Science and Management, College of Food Science and Human Ecology (COLFHEC), and the Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre (AMREC). In her lecture titled “Afrocentric and Gendered-Constructions of Psychological Well-Being in Families: The Sojourn of a Gender Scholar,” Prof. Sokoya advocated for increased investment in girl-child education, emphasizing its critical role in reducing poverty among women and enhancing family well-being.

Prof. Sokoya highlighted the transformative impact of education, noting that educated girls and women are better equipped to advocate for their rights, make informed health decisions, and contribute significantly to society. “Educated women often reinvest in their families, breaking cycles of poverty,” she stated, urging agricultural extension workers to promote girl-child education in rural communities. She called on AMREC-FUNAAB to support this mission by empowering extension personnel to champion gender-sensitive approaches that encourage shared decision-making within farm families.

An authority in Gender and Family Studies, Prof. Sokoya also addressed the importance of mental health, pointing out that women are particularly vulnerable to internalizing disorders such as depression and anxiety. She advised women to seek healthy outlets for stress relief and encouraged storytelling as a therapeutic practice, saying, “Take care of yourselves, eat well, rest, and strive to live fulfilling lives.” She also urged men to foster supportive environments that allow women to express themselves freely.

In her appeal for gender equity, Prof. Sokoya emphasized the need for intentional parenting that nurtures gender sensitivity in boys. “We must raise boys with empathy and respect for women, shifting away from a one-sided focus on training girls to be nurturing,” she said, calling for a more balanced approach in family and community upbringing.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Olukayode Akinyemi, commended Prof. Sokoya’s contributions to gender advocacy, noting her pioneering role in drafting FUNAAB’s Gender Policy in 2014 and her leadership in the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES). He acknowledged her dedication to family and youth development through her work with the Family Resources and Youth Foundation (FRYFOUND) International, underscoring her lasting impact on gender policies at FUNAAB and beyond.

Prof. Sokoya concluded her lecture by calling for a collaborative effort among government bodies and NGOs to empower women and youth through skills training, culturally relevant education, and micro-financing, aiming to uplift communities and promote sustainable development.