Education
UNICEF calls for increased investment in adolescent girls’ rights
The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has called for renewed vigor in safeguarding and fostering the rights of adolescent girls in Nigeria as the country edge closer to the midpoint of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) journey.
This is as UNICEF notes that the girl child boundless potential deserves nothing less than the country’s utmost commitment and investment. This is as the focus on the well-being and rights of all, especially girls, becomes even more critical.
Every year on October 11, the world unites to celebrate the resilience, strength, and potential of girls, highlighting the distinct challenges they face worldwide.
Despite the strides made, the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report 2023 indicates a sobering 131 years before we achieve full gender parity.
Hence, the current global landscape, marked by resistance to gender equality and multifaceted crises, has further jeopardized the rights of adolescent girls, putting the vision of a just world for all at risk.
UNICEF Representative in Nigeria Ms. Cristian Munduate said, “The potential of our girls is limitless, but we must first provide them with the platforms to express, learn, and thrive. Our commitment to this cause is unwavering and paramount for the nation’s progress.
She further added, “In a rapidly evolving world, the dreams and aspirations of our adolescent girls are the beacons that can guide our efforts towards a more inclusive, equitable future.”
In Nigeria, the stakes are high for an estimated 26 million adolescent girls (ages 10-19). To ensure Nigeria remains on course for the 2030 SDGs, the spotlight must shine brightest on its girls, especially those marginalized due to disability, poverty, or crises, and those who are pregnant, parenting, or married.
Munduate further noted that everyone’s collective responsibility extends to championing girls’ education, preventing harmful cultural practices, advancing menstrual hygiene, offering tailored health services, and meeting the nutritional requirements of these young ladies.
Stressing that, while the terrain might be fraught with challenges, there’s hope. Nigeria’s adolescent girls who are not passive bystanders but active agents of change, to drive transformative initiatives in their communities.
She further said that time has come for their voices to echo louder in the halls of decision-making. Girls from UNICEF’s programme in Katsina and Sokoto, for instance, have put forth actionable demands—ranging from life skills training and accessible digital devices to the critical involvement of fathers in girls’ education.
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