Abia and Lagos States have renewed their commitment to advancing education, healthcare, and empowerment opportunities for the girl child as Nigeria joined the rest of the world to commemorate the 2025 International Day of the Girl-Child.
The pledge was made on Tuesday, during a strategic summit organised by the United Nations Association of Nigeria in Lagos, themed ‘The Girl I Am, the Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontline of Crisis.’
The event brought together policymakers, women leaders, and development advocates to push for inclusive policies that ensure every Nigerian girl can learn, lead, and thrive.
Speaking at the event, the First Lady of Abia State, Priscilla Otti, said the Nigerian-adapted theme, ‘Health, Skills, and Empowerment: Investing in Every Girl’s Future,’ captures the foundation of sustainable development and women’s empowerment.
She noted that Abia State had taken bold steps to promote the well-being of young girls through initiatives such as the inauguration of a Technical Working Group on Menstrual Hygiene to ensure that menstruation never hinders girls’ education or dignity.
Otti also highlighted the state’s dedicated hotline for survivors of gender-based violence and the free, compulsory education policy, which she said ensures that health and learning move hand in hand to give every girl a fair chance to succeed.
“A girl child is not voiceless; she has a voice. Our duty is to provide her with the microphone, the stage, and the audience to amplify it,” she stated.
Similarly, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Abisola Dokunmu-Adegbite, said Lagos remains a model for girl-child development through its inclusive education and healthcare programmes.
According to her, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved the payment of WAEC examination fees for all public school students, adding that the state provides free education, free healthcare, and multiple skill acquisition programmes to empower girls across communities.
She said: “Our governor has brought healthcare closer to the grassroots through functional primary healthcare centres and continuous awareness campaigns.”
In his remarks, the President of UNAN, Oluremi Olutimo, recalled the 1995 Beijing Declaration and the UN General Assembly Resolution 66/170, which declared October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child. He lamented that despite progress, deep-rooted inequalities still limit girls’ access to education and leadership opportunities.
“When we invest in girls, we build a more equitable and just world, one where every girl has the opportunity to contribute to sustainable development and peace,” Olutimo stated.
The Chair, Health Advocacy Committee, UNAN, Ekanem Adeleke, stressed that investing in girls’ health and education remains the cornerstone of national development. She noted that this year’s celebration moved beyond advocacy to action, featuring medical outreach, mentorship initiatives, workshops, and entrepreneurship training to equip young women with practical skills.
“When a girl is healthy, she learns better; when she learns, she leads; and when she leads, she transforms her community,” she said.
The summit attracted representatives from government agencies, non-governmental organisations, female secondary school students, resource persons, and development partners, all calling for stronger partnerships to build a healthier, more empowered generation of girls in Nigeria.
The International Day of the Girl Child is a global observance declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2011 through Resolution 66/170. The day aims to highlight and address the challenges faced by girls worldwide, while promoting their empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.
By Anozie Egole
