The Guidance and Counselling Centre, in collaboration with the SRC Women’s Commission of UENR (WoCOM), on Sunday, January 29, 2023, engaged 106 female first-year students with its annual programme dubbed “Girls Talk”.
“Girls Talk” an all-female programme seeks to sensitize, enlighten, empower and educate young women on campus to have a balanced academic and social life.
The event, moderated by the Ag. head of the Guidance and Counselling Centre, Mrs. Eva Atika Bakuri Dinye, had Ms. Phillipa Mensah, Ms. Abena Ahenkorah, Ms. Betty Eshun as speakers on the theme “Adjusting to campus life”.
Mrs. Dinye in her speech enlightened the young women about amorous relationships and their related issues such as date rape and sexual harassment. She continued to advise them about their choice of friends, adding that they should be wise and diligent in the kind of acquaintances to have on campus.
An Assistant Registrar at the General Administration, Ms. Philipa Mensah spoke about personal branding. In her presentation, she highlighted the importance of good appearance, in terms of decent dressing and good communication. These qualities, the Speaker said, give impressions about an individual. She, therefore, encouraged them to have a social life and build networks for the future.
Taking her turn to speak to the Ladies, Ms. Harriet Attafuah, Assistant Librarian touched on achieving academic excellence as a fresh woman. She made them aware of ways to achieve academic excellence, which includes knowing who they are, their strengths and weaknesses, and writing a “to-do list” to manage their time. Other ways also included setting achievable goals, making smart friends and being prayerful.
Ms. Abena Ahenkorah, the Hostel Manageress presented on Adjusting to Hostel Life. She shared some experiences with the Ladies about problems students face in the hostels and entreated them to learn basic life skills such as washing, and cleaning, to avoid problems with roommates. She further spoke about mastering mood swings and handling inconveniences in mature ways while being with roommates, encouraging students to confide in her when they face issues with roommates.
Delivering the last presentation, a Senior Health Superintendent at the University Clinic, Ms. Betty Kwao Eshun educated students on sex and its related issues, explaining to them the mode of transmission and symptoms of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and unwanted pregnancies among others. She admonished them to abstain from premarital sex to avoid facing the predicaments afterwards. They also received education on their personal hygiene as young ladies.
In her welcome address, the General Secretary of WoCOM, Miss Ibrahim Fuseina, encouraged the fresher Ladies to feel at home. She used the opportunity to sensitize them to the functions and the core values of the Women’s Commission of the student governing body.
