Era of preferential treatment over sex of a child over — Mrs. Ebere

Educated girl-child contributes more to society — Anueyiagu

…Properly groomed daughter is an asset — Chief Ikeoha

…Importance of girl-child education is huge — Wilcox-Iwuchukwu

…Era of preferential treatment over sex of a child over — Mrs. Ebere

…Still important to give the boys best for their role in families — Anakwe

By Anayo Okoli, Vincent Ujumadu, Chimaobi Nwaiwu, Nwabueze Okonkwo,Peter Okutu, Chinenye Ozor, Chinedu Adonu & Chinonso Alozie

IN the past, it was not fashionable in Igbo land to send girls to school. The kitchen was rather seen as the best place for them. Hence, they were given out early in marriage. Families preferred to send only the boys for apprenticeship or to school for the few that had interest in education. Today, the situation has glaringly changed.

Igbo girl-child now competes favourably, if not better, with the boys, in the academic field. Question is, what influenced the change; which is more profitable, investing in the education of the girl-child or the boy child?

Many parents in Igbo land were reluctant in the past to send their female children to school for the simple belief that there was no need to spend so much money educating them since they would be getting married and therefore would no longer be very useful to their maiden families. Stories were told of parents pressuring their female children to get married once they were in their teens so that their bride price would be used to pay the school fees of their male children.