'Verse To The Girl Child' - Written by Banky W

Here's a a poem Banky W wrote and recited earlier today at an MTN event in Lagos. Read below...

Verse To The Girl Child

What frightens the extremists and really gives them the spooks?

There’s nothing scarier to them than a girl with a book

Not a soldier, or a bomb, or a gun, or a landmine

There’s nothing more dangerous than her enlightened mind

So they kidnap, and enslave, and try to stand in her way

And they rape, and oppress and try to make her afraid

Because they know, that for sure, she’ll grow up one day

And when that day comes, she’ll be strong enough to bring change

So respect to the girl child, you’ve got grown men scared of you

Salute to our future Chimamanda’s, and our Tiwa Savage’s too

To our future Oprah Winfrey’s and our Maya Angelou’s

Because we know you will grow, and your success is inevitable

They can try to fight it, and they can try to deny

They can kidnap at night, and they can try to terrorise

But may nothing and noone ever succeed in snuffing out your light

And that little light of yours, will one day shine bright

They say the truth will set you free, well this is the gospel truth

There’s nothing more powerful than a girl with a book

       By Banky W
Inspired by a quote from UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon