Stakeholders promoting gender equality and women empowerment have said that the girl child represents a central factor in Nigeria’s growth and development processes.

The stakeholders stated this at an Adolescents’ Town Hall and Mentorship Day, organised to commemorate the 2024 International Day of the Girl Child, on Thursday in Abuja.

The event themed: ‘Girls’ Vision for the Feature,’ was organised for about 500 children from different schools, organisations and orphanages across the six area councils of the FCT.

It was organised by She Forum Africa, an NGO, in collaboration with Women Affairs Secretariat, Federal Capital Territory Administration, the Embassy of Finland and Pathfinder International.

The founder of She Forum Africa, Ms Inimfon Etuk, said that to get the best of the girl child, they must be harnessed early; groomed early, and supported early.

This, she said, would enable young girls to reach their full potential.

According to her, accelerating actions to ensure equity for the girl child
is hinged on education, a foundation that must remain a priority.

‘Education must remain a priority because it is central to integrated and all-round development of the girl child and all children.

‘Every year, we bring girls from different backgrounds, particularly adolescent girls because they represent the future.

‘There is so much grooming, capacity building and knowledge exchange that need to happen for adolescent girls,’ she said.

Etuk stressed the need to prioritise the dreams and aspirations of adolescent girls at par with that of the boys.

Also, Dr Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, Mandate Secretary, Women Affairs Secretariat, FCT Administration, said that ‘every girl is unique and should have a very safe and conducive environment to thrive.

The mandate secretary, who was represented by the Head of Adolescent Department, Dr Hauwa Amina, added that the girl child must be supported to realise their full potential as members of the society.

On her part, Mrs Toyin Saraki, the founder and President, Wellbe
ing Foundation Africa, urged stakeholders to invest in the girl child within and outside families, schools and communities.

This, according to Saraki, will make sure that the female gender contributes to nation building.

She explained that the Wellbeing Foundation Africa was working on the health and wellbeing of women, children and families in communities across Nigeria and the world.

She said that the foundation was reaching out to adolescent girls under its Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education programme, and its Water Sanitation and Hygiene training.

The presidents said that the foundation had reached 57,900 Nigerian girls from January to date and hoped to reach 248,000 girls before the end of 2024.

‘Our goal is to reach six million children by 2025,’ she said.

The Etsu of Kwali, Mr Luka Nizassan, Etsu of Kwali, said that girls were made vulnerable by culture and tradition in the society and called for collective efforts to turn the tide around.

Nizassan promised to promote cultural ideas
that promote the growth of girls in his domain.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria