“Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being”

In commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child celebrated annually on October 11, Women Radio 91.7 has called on the government at all levels to take decisive actions and implement policies aimed at encouraging and empowering the girl child. This year’s theme “Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being” focuses on the need to pay more attention and provide resources in key areas that would enable the girl child to realize and maximize their potential to contribute effectively and help them make informed decisions.

Women Radio spoke to some Nigerian Women on their concerns about the girl child: Oluyemi Orija, Executive Director of Headfort Foundation stressed the importance of societal unity and resource mobilization to ensure the protection, empowerment and advancement of the girl child, asserting that both education and skill development are essential avenues for empowering young girls, benefitting families, societies and the nation in general. Orija advocated for increased collaboration amongst civil society organizations and NGOs working on the rights of the girl child, urging them to unite and form coalitions to foster a cohesive and more effective fight against gender-based violence, low education rate of the girl child and the obnoxious practices binding on girls in various communities.

Adenike Aloba, Programme Director Dataphyte noted the need for actionable policies in education, healthcare and other critical areas that affect girls to bridge the gaps that have continued to hinder the girl-child, urging the government to enforce policies that protect the rights of the girl-child and allow for girls to get the adequate support they need regardless of socio-economic status. Dr. Ifunanya Igweze, Co-founder Preggify encouraged girls to embrace technology and called on stakeholders to ensure that girls are provided the tools and support necessary for them to compete in today’s evolving technological space to help them better their lives. Dr. Igweze noted the need for advanced technology in the healthcare sector to help provide support for women and girls to reduce the rate of maternal mortality and other illnesses related to women and girls.

Tammie Edet Kammonke, executive director Gender Perspective in Development called on the government to amend the provision of the 1999 constitution section 29 subsection 4 that stipulates that “any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age” as this is open to different interpretations leaving the girl child vulnerable to early marriages that hinder them from enjoying their childhood forcing them to grow up without an understanding of their potentials.

Women Radio celebrates Nigerian Girls who have continually fought against unfair social norms and demanded their rightful recognition as worthy citizens. In the words of Angelique Kidjo, a songwriter and singer “Everyone wins when children especially girls have access to education, an educated girl is likely to increase her personal earning potential and prepare herself for a productive and fulfilling life as well as reduce poverty in the whole community” which reiterates the saying “when you educate a boy, you educate one but when you educate a girl, you educate a nation”.