Despite notable strides in gender advocacy, Nigerian girls continue to face significant challenges, including early marriage, gender-based violence, limited access to quality education, and societal norms that suppress their voices, according to ActionAid Nigeria.
Speaking at the commemoration of the 2024 International Day of the Girl in Abuja, Andrew Mamedu, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, emphasised the importance of recognizing the realities faced by young girls.
He highlighted the theme of the celebration, “Girls’ Vision for the Future,” as a reminder that girls are not merely passive recipients of change but active agents in shaping a better, more equitable tomorrow.
Mamedu cited alarming statistics from northern Nigeria, where only 47% of girls attend school in some areas, and child marriage and teenage pregnancy remain prevalent.
He acknowledged the disproportionate impact of crises on girls, emphasizing that they are not victims but powerful forces for change.
“Research carried out in Jigawa and the FCT revealed that 60% of men believe educating girls leads to immorality, while others prioritize skill development or petty trade over formal education,” stated Mamedu. “These findings clearly show that girls are not prioritized, and that needs to change.”
ActionAid Nigeria, through its girl-led research initiatives in communities across Jigawa and Abuja, has witnessed firsthand how girls are confronting the issues that affect them.
These girls are not just identifying problems; they are leading the way in developing solutions, holding up a mirror to society, exposing its failures, and demanding their rightful place at decision-making tables.
Favour Usman, a participant in the girl-led research, echoed the need for change: “Our theme today speaks to our reality as young girls who want to be heard, to lead, and to create change.
“It’s about imagining a future where girls are safe, empowered, and free to reach our full potential.”
Usman outlined specific demands for action:
1. Prioritise girls’ education: Providing scholarships, reducing school material costs, and ensuring accessible, affordable, and safe school environments.
2. Support menstrual health: Ensuring access to free menstrual health education and sanitary products to prevent girls from missing school or risking their health.
3. Educate communities: Raising awareness about the importance of girls’ education, health, and safety through community leaders, parents, and girls themselves.
4. End gender-based violence: Strengthening laws and enforcement to protect girls from violence, creating safe spaces for reporting, and providing support for healing and recovery.
This International Day of the Girl serves as a call to action for all adults, leaders, and allies to listen to girls’ voices, prioritise their needs, and work alongside them to create a future where their vision for a safe, just, and equitable world becomes a reality.