The Nigerian Girl Guides Association (NGGA) says it will intensify efforts at popularising its activities among girls in universities across the country.
The association’s Chief Commissioner, Mrs Maria Goretti Sule, said the plan on the sidelines of the closing of a three-day workshop for members on Monday in Lagos.
The strategy development workshop, funded by the United Parcel Service, was put in place for leaders of the association.
Sule said that the association’s strength lay in number, and as the biggest girls’ movement in the world, there was need to explore avenues for more volunteers.
``There is this saying that where there are no volunteers there are no guides.
``And that means we will not be able to do what we are supposed to do, which is primarily to assist girls and young women to achieve their fullest potentialities,’’ she said.
The official said that a lot of girls who were active members of the association tried to reduce their involvement in the guides’ activities on gaining admission into tertiary institutions.
``This is what we want to fight against. We want to see how we can popularise our activities in these institutions around the country, to further boost our numerical strength.
``Those in the universities must strive to take up the challenge in sensitising more girls about the activities and modus operandi of the association.
``We, on our part, are working round the clock to see how to re-strategise and attract people in their productive years to join guiding.
``However, we are not solely focusing on how to increase our membership but also guiding them into our succession plans.
``We are equally working on our leaders; and that is why we are also using the opportunity of the workshop to build capacity for leaders.
``Numbers will follow when you get good leadership in place,’’ she said.
Mrs Olufolake Adeleye-Matuluko, the UPS Strategic Project Manager, said that the workshop would, among other benefits, accelerate the organisation’s set goals.
According to her, UPS is passionate about the development of the girl child and young women, which informs its deep involvement in the organisation’s activities in countries around the world.
Adeleye-Matuluko, also a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), the association’s body at the world level, said that the workshop was targeted at increasing awareness.
``We are also looking at expanding capacity of member organisations in key UPS emerging markets.
``Our expectation at the end of the workshop is to see how we can look inward and re-strategise because there are lots of impediments facing this kind of organisation.
``We also hope to see less prostitution, teenage pregnancy, girl child trafficking, drug abuse and other vices,’’ she said.
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