The charge came during events held nationwide to commemorate the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child, themed “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontlines of Crisis.”
In Abuja, the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, decried the deep-rooted cultural conditioning that teaches girls to embrace shame and silence instead of confronting injustice or asserting their worth.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who recently returned to the Senate on October 7, 2025, after a six-month suspension, spoke at a mentorship and interactive session tagged “An Evening with Senator Natasha.”
“It’s important to identify the girl that I am. Many of us grow up without ever taking the time to understand who we truly are,” she said. “Society defines and shapes us from childhood, and we’re rarely given the chance to think for ourselves. Before you figure out your career or the change you want to make, you must first know who you are.”
She lamented the social expectations that limit women’s ambitions, saying, “Women have been raised to take the shame, wear the blame, and zip their mouths shut. But that ends with us. We must be bold, audacious, and fearless—to break barriers and climb higher mountains.”
The event brought together over 50 young women from across Nigeria for conversations on self-discovery, leadership, and empowerment.
Among the speakers was anti-human trafficking advocate Yakubu Oyiza Hope, who shared her survival story from abduction and violence to becoming a voice for victims.
Participants described the session as “eye-opening and transformative,” urging the senator to establish a formal mentorship initiative to sustain the impact.
In Rivers State, stakeholders renewed calls for increased investment in girls’ education, healthcare, and leadership opportunities.
Wife of the Chairman of Tai Local Government Area, Dr (Mrs) Winnieenu Mbakpone, made the appeal at an event held at Gbene Giniwa Hall, Saakpenwa, to commemorate the day.
She urged collective action to empower girls, particularly in communities facing social and economic challenges.
“This day shines a light on the unique challenges girls face across the world,” she said. “It reminds us of our collective duty to empower them through access to education, healthcare, and opportunities that enable them to thrive.”
Mrs Mbakpone presented gifts—including toiletries, books, and cash—to girls and their guardians to support their education and well-being.
Chairman of the council, Mbakpone Okpe, advised the girls to uphold discipline, character, and godly values as foundations for success in a fast-changing world.
In her keynote presentation, Justice Lemea Ngbor encouraged the girls to embrace leadership and see themselves as agents of social transformation.
In Kaduna, a Non-Governmental Organisation, Women Advocacy and Voter Education Nigeria, called for stronger national commitment to end entrenched gender bias and improve protection for the girl child.
Its Founder and President, Comrade Maryam Gali, made the appeal during an outreach programme at Government Secondary School, Ungwan Boro, where the group distributed sanitary pads, exercise books, pens, and cash to hundreds of female students.
“Gender inequality remains deep-seated in our society,” Gali said. “It starts from our homes, is reinforced in schools, and even extends to religious institutions. These biases continue to undermine girls’ confidence and limit their opportunities to lead.”
While commending the Federal Government for enacting the Child Rights Act in 2003, Gali expressed concern over poor implementation in many states, which she said allowed issues such as child marriage, abuse, and educational deprivation to persist.
“Many states have yet to fully enforce the Act. That is why child marriage and denial of education continue to plague our girls,” she added, urging traditional and religious leaders to help dismantle norms that silence or sideline girls.
One of the beneficiaries, Miss Perseverance Sunday, a Senior Secondary School 2 student, expressed joy at the outreach.
“I’m very happy for what they did for us,” she said. “We are encouraged to work harder and reminded that we can achieve great things if we stay focused.”
0 Comments