Enugu commissioner and others support International Day of the Girl Child – Challenging norms, biases, and embracing equality for all young girls.

Enugu State Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs, and Social Development, Ngozi Enih has charged the girl-child to challenge all the norms and biases detrimental to her growth and development. Enih gave the charge in Enugu at a summit to mark this year’s International Day of the Girl Child, organised by a non-governmental organization, Hope for African Children. The event had in attendance 500 young girls drawn from 32 secondary schools within the state.

The Commissioner said it was a celebration of the strength, resilience, and determination of girls all over the world-girls who know what they want and are unafraid to pursue their dreams. She noted that “we live in a society where girls face many challenges, from societal expectations as it affects your education (limited career choices teaching, nursing, low educational aspirations, stem field, science technology, engineering and maths), physical appearance (beauty standards) to systemic barriers such as poverty, high dropout rate due to pregnancy, exposure to violence and abuse.”

Enih encouraged the girl-child to “speak up and demand to be heard. Challenge the norms and biases that try to limit you, you are not weak, less intelligent, you are not an object for male pleasure. Embrace your uniqueness and individuality, and never compromise on your values and aspirations. Stand strong against societal vices like premarital sex, early marriage, peer pressure, cultism and any behaviour that seeks to undermine your potential.”

Meanwhile, the Commissioner equally tasked adults, policymakers, and leaders to create safe spaces free from violence, harassment, exploitation and discrimination where girls can thrive and grow without fear. “Empowering girls is empowering humanity,” she said while commending Hope for African Children “for their dedicated outreach to girls with disabilities, which aligns closely with His Excellency Dr. Peter Mbah’s inclusive policy.”

In his keynote speech at the event, Noel Ifeanyi Alumona, Founder and Chief Executive, Hope for African Children, said the Girls Dare to Lead Summit was a testament “to the power of our young girls and their unwavering determination to shape a brighter future for themselves, their communities and the world at large.”

He said his passion and commitment for the past 11 years had always been ‘putting girls and children with disabilities first. “We’re ensuring that girls and young people with disabilities are not left behind -through inclusion, education, equal play and opportunities. At Hope for African Children, we believe that every girl deserves the opportunity to reach her full potential.

“And just as the theme for today’s Summit says, Let Girls Lead, we are committed to empowering girls, providing them with the tools and resources they need to succeed, and inspiring them to become leaders of both today and tomorrow. We are preparing girls to lead in every sphere of their lives before and after 18, and we thank our staff and volunteers who show up every day to make this important work happen,” Alumona stated.

He added that the organization would continue to champion girls’ leadership and invest in girls’ education, while urging the government and partners to provide girls with access to quality healthcare, and create safe and supportive environments for their growth and development. This is as he lamented that what he called the “critical issue of period poverty in Nigeria,” expressing worry that “millions of girls across the country miss school every month due to their lack of access to sanitary pads. This project seeks to bridge this gap by advocating for government support to provide free sanitary pads and safe spaces for girls in schools.”