The federal government has been tasked by the UNICEF to give teenage Nigerian girls the means to express themselves, learn, and grow, emphasizing the amount of resilience, strength, and potential innate in many girls.
For the country to advance, commitment to children must be constant and important, according to UNICEF Country Representative Cristian Munduate, who made the statement in a news release to commemorate the 2023 International Day of the Girl Child.
For the estimated 26 million adolescent girls (ages 10–19) in the nation, the stakes are high, especially for those who are marginalized owing to a disability, poverty, or crises, as well as those who are pregnant, parenting, or who are coerced into marriage.
Munduate said that efforts should continue to be made to promote girls’ education, end harmful cultural customs, advance menstrual hygiene, provide specialized health care, and address the nutritional needs of these young women.
“Our girls have untapped potential, but we must first provide them the tools they need to express themselves, study, and flourish. The advancement of the country depends on our unflinching dedication to this goal.
“In a world that is changing quickly, our adolescent girls’ dreams and aspirations can serve as beacons to direct our efforts toward a more inclusive, equitable future.”
“While the environment may be difficult, there is optimism. Teenage girls in Nigeria are not just passive observers of change; they are also active participants, spearheading revolutionary programs in their neighborhoods. Their voices need to be heard more clearly in the rooms where decisions are made now.
The rights of teenage girls should be protected and promoted with renewed vigor, UNICEF Nigeria urges on this International Day of the Girl. Nothing less than the nation’s complete devotion and investment in them is worthy of their limitless potential.