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| International Day of the Girl 2023: |
By Sola Charles
In order to enable girls and women in Nigeria to reach their full potential both now and in the future, the Nigerian government has been given the mandate to give protection of their rights a high priority.
Calls have been made for improved and sustained investment in the girl child in Nigeria towards the attainment of gender equality and girl empowerment in line with the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs.
The Lagos State Chapter of the Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria, NRHJN, made the statement on the occasion of this year's International Day of the Girl, stating that girls in Nigeria will only reach their full potential if they are given the opportunity and empowerment to live healthy and fulfilling lives.
The Network gave the government the duty of achieving objectives that would lead to justice, inclusiveness, an economy that works for everyone now, and a shared environment for future generations in a statement signed by the Lagos State Coordinator, Kikelomo Oduyebo, and the Assistant Secretary, Yesirat Apakala.
“Every October 11, we join the rest of the world to raise awareness about gender inequality and advocate for girls' rights and empowerment, while focusing on addressing the challenges girls and young women face and ensuring their human rights are fulfilled.
“The NRHJN Lagos chapter emphasizes the rights of girls to a safe, uncompromised, and healthy life during their formative years and as they mature into womanhood. Girls have the potential to change the world as empowered women, workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads, and political leaders, just to mention a few. We firmly believe that investment in realizing the power of adolescent girls upholds their rights and promises a more equitable and prosperous future.
Calling for an unhindered achievement of gender equality and girl empowerment, the Network also advocated for an end to female genital mutilation. It forced child marriage arguing that schoolgirls must have access to quality education and a safe environment free of harassment, kidnapping, bullying, and defilement.
“Our girls are our heroines, and the Lagos NRHJN will continue to encourage mothers to nurture their girl child in order to break down traditional, cultural, and religious stereotypes and barriers that have prevented girls from achieving their goals, as we encourage more girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
“We will continue to support the government, schools, families, and other stakeholders in empowering the Nigerian girl by providing adequate and equitable educational and instructional resources that would lead to the eradication of all forms of sexual and gender-based violence against girls and women in the country.
“Girls, and boys too, should be given equal opportunities to thrive in the family, schools, and society at large for a realistically inclusive society. There should be no compromise.”
