News Commentary – Celebrating the Girl Child
There is no doubt that the era of underestimating the girl child’s contributions to the society is gone.
In fact, the qualities of a girl child cannot be overemphasized in the family, community and the country.
Like her male counterpart, the girl child is strong, intelligent, hardworking, diligent, determined, and a problem solver.
Of a truth, girls in the present generation are affected by global crisis such as climate change, conflicts, poverty, sexual and other form of abuses.
Equally, many of the girls especially in Nigeria are still denied rights to access quality education, sexual and productive health care services, hygienic and safe environment, clean water and right information thus restricting and limiting their choices and aspirations in life.
It was for his reason that the International Day for the Girl Child recently called for action by all to ensure girls are protected, respected and empowered to attain their full potentials in life.
No wonder, the theme for 2024 International Day of the Girl Child: “Girls’ Vision for the Future” emphasizes both the need for urgent action and persistent hope, driven by girls’ voices and vision for the future.
In a world where girls are constantly faced with crisis, discriminations, marginalization and violence, the girls need government, non-governmental organizations and individuals to listen and respond to their visions and needs.
This can be achieved by investing in proven policies and programmes that can break limitations and accelerate progress to girls’ aspirations and wellbeing.
At this juncture, we commend the active involvement of AGILE, a federal government initiative aimed to encourage education and empowerment of the girl child through advocacy and sensitization of key stakeholders in the state.
Also worthy of commendation is the award of scholarship and donation of sanitary pads to girls to help cushion their plights at the time school fees and essentials of life are far from the reach of most girls in the country.
Equally, there is the urgent need for Government at all levels to put more measures in place towards promoting enrollment of girl-child in Schools to study science and technology related courses to enable them contribute their quota to national development.
This aligns with the saying that “when a girl leads, the family and communities benefit”.
