By Vincess Okushi
On the 2024 International Day of the Girl Child, experts and advocates alike are calling for decisive action to dismantle barriers facing girls.
Grace Ike, Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abuja Correspondents Chapel, joined the global community in celebrating this significant day, emphasizing the urgent need for stakeholders to take concrete steps toward empowering girls in Nigeria.
As a passionate human rights advocate, Ike stressed that empowering girls is essential to shaping a brighter future.
She called for an immediate end to outdated societal, religious, and cultural norms that sideline girls, noting how these practices not only limit their potential but also degrade them to second-class citizens in many parts of Nigeria.
Today, we stand united with the global community to recognize the International Day of the Girl Child. Ike stated.
This year’s theme, ‘Girls’ Vision for the Future,’
Reminds us that girls hold the key to a better tomorrow.
They are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are the change-makers of today.
Ike urged the government to prioritize girls’ education, health, and protection to overcome the challenges of limited access to quality education, early marriage, gender-based violence, and systemic discrimination.
Every girl deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. By investing in their education, we invest in the future of our nation. She asserted.
We must intensify efforts to end child marriage, sexual abuse, and human trafficking. Girls deserve to pursue their dreams in a safe and secure environment.
Ike also stressed the importance of investing in girls’ health, ensuring access to reproductive health services and menstrual hygiene management.
Healthy girls are empowered girls.
Ike’s call to action is grounded in the belief that unity is crucial and urged all sectors of society to support efforts for a resilient future.
On this International Day of the Girl Child, we celebrate the strength, courage, and potential of every Nigerian girl. Together, we can dismantle the barriers that hinder their progress and create a world where their dreams can flourish.
By coming together, government, civil society, and citizens, we can build a future where every Nigerian girl is free to dream, achieve, and lead. she concluded.
Her fight for gender equality is driven by a vision for immediate and collective action crucial to uplifting the girl child.