As the world marks the International Day of the Girl Child, a non-governmental organization, Hope for African Children, has called upon governments at all levels to focus on creating an environment that nurtures and empowers every girl child to reach her full potential.
The group highlighted that the occasion serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing the needs and rights of girls worldwide.
The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the organization, Noel Ifeanyi Alumona, made this call during a one-day summit themed “Let Girls Lead” in Enugu. He underscored Hope for African Children’s commitment to equipping girls with the necessary tools and resources.
He emphasized that fostering an environment that encourages leadership among girls is crucial for inspiring them to become effective leaders in their communities.
Alumona expressed optimism that by instilling essential leadership skills, knowledge, and opportunities, girls can be motivated to lead fearlessly and enact positive changes in their societies.
“We believe that by equipping girls with the necessary leadership skills, knowledge, and opportunities, we can inspire them to lead boldly and make a difference in their communities.
“As we gather here today, it is important to remember that the future of our nation rests in the hands of our young girls. We must invest in building their capacity, as investing in their education, empowerment, and well-being is investing in the future of Nigeria.
“We will continue to champion girls’ leadership, invest in girls’ education, and urge the government and partners to provide girls with access to quality healthcare and create safe and supportive environments for their growth and development.
“At Hope for African Children, we believe that ‘Girls Know What They Want,’ and today’s summit is a celebration of these promising 500 young girls, drawn from 32 secondary schools within the state, and their remarkable aspirations and hopes,” he said.
Also speaking, the Enugu State Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs, and Social Development, Hon. Ngozi Enih, encouraged every girl child to speak up and demand to be heard.
She urged them to challenge the norms and biases that try to limit them, saying, “You are not weak, less intelligent, and you are not an object for male pleasure.”
“We have gathered to celebrate the strength, resilience, and determination of girls all over the world—girls who know what they want and are unafraid to pursue their dreams.
“We live in a society where girls face many challenges, from societal expectations affecting your education (limited career choices like teaching, nursing, low educational aspirations in STEM fields: science, technology, engineering, and math) and physical appearance (beauty standards) to systemic barriers such as poverty, high dropout rates due to pregnancy, and exposure to violence and abuse.
“Embrace your uniqueness and individuality, and never compromise on your values and aspirations. Stand strong against societal vices like premarital sex, early marriage, peer pressure, cultism, and any behavior that seeks to undermine your potential.
“Empowering girls is empowering humanity. I would like to commend Hope for African Children for their dedicated outreach to girls with disabilities, which aligns closely with His Excellency Dr. Peter Mbah’s inclusive policy,” she said.
The highlight of the event was the distribution of sanitary pads to over 500 young girls drawn from 32 secondary schools within the state and the unveiling of the Girls Dare to Lead initiative.
