The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged stakeholders across the country to support the aspirations of girls and provide them with increased opportunities, stressing that this will not only lead to a more economically sustainable future for the girls but also for the nation as a whole.
Chief of UNICEF Field Office for Southwest Nigeria, Celine Lafoucriere, gave the advice as part of activities marking 2024 International Girl-Child Day with the theme: “Girls’ Vision For The Future.”
According to her, girls are not only courageous in the face of adversity; they are also hopeful for the future, making any investment in them worth more in terms of growth and returns.
Lafoucriere, who noted that the vision of the girl-child cannot be realised by her efforts alone, urged well-meaning Nigerians to support her in actualizing her dreams.
She said: “As you know, October 11 is a key global moment to celebrate girls and amplify their voices and also their actions as well as leadership. The day also belongs to everyone that cares about girls and taking action to advocate for the full spectrum of their rights.”
The UNICEF Chief stated that there were barriers currently preventing girls from attaining their full potentials, emphasizing that the circumstances of their birth should not impose limitations on their dreams or choices.
She argued that “being a girl shouldn’t determine what you can do, where you can go or who you can become. But now, it is the reality of millions of girls across the world.
“Too many are being left behind, confronted by extreme challenges every day that deny them their rights, restrict their choices and limit their futures.”
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As this year’s International Girl-Child Day also coincides with 2024 International Adolescent Health Week, Lafoucriere, in order to reinforce her call for a holistic approach to tackle gender inequities and barriers, highlighted grim statistics about adolescent girls that need urgent attention.
“Today, 1 in 5 young women aged between 20 and 24 years old are married as children. Nearly 1 in 4 partnered adolescent girls have experienced sexual or physical abuse. Globally up to 75 percent of new HIV infections are amongst adolescent girls.
“1 in 3 adolescent girls suffer from anemia, which as you know, is a form of malnutrition. Almost double the number of adolescent girls, 1 in 4, compared to boys are not in any form of education, employment or training,” she lamented.
The UNICEF Chief added that even though the picture seemed dreadful and somewhat hopeless, it was not without redemption if the right things were done.
To tackle anomalies identified, Lafoucriere advocated collaboration among stakeholders, including the media, to help bring about the desired change in the life of the girls.
“They need alliance like us, like yourselves who listen and respond to their needs. Together, we can build a better future in which every girl’s rights are protected.
Evidence shows that with the right support, the right resources and the right opportunities, the potential of girls around the world is limitless; when girls achieve their goals, we all move closer to achieving our global goals,” she concluded.
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