Int’l Day of the Girl Child: WACHEF, ActionAid Call for Girl Child Protection, Education, Empowerment.
By Worldview Magazine.
The Women and Children Health Empowerment Foundation (WACHEF) has called for increased investment in girls’ education, empowerment, reproductive health and protection from harmful traditional practices as it commemorated the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child in Mika, Yorro Local Government Area of Taraba State.
You May Also Like
The event, organised under the Local Rights Programme (LRP), funded by ActionAid Nigeria, brought together government representatives, community leaders, girls and other stakeholders to promote the rights, welfare and development of the girl child.
Speaking at the event, WACHEF LRP Programme Officer, Wisdom Christopher, reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to advancing the rights of women and children, strengthening community participation and improving access to essential services for vulnerable groups.
Christopher described the commemoration as an opportunity to inspire girls to embrace education, build confidence and pursue opportunities for personal and economic development.
“Every girl deserves the opportunity to learn, grow and realise her full potential. Investing in girls’ education, health and empowerment is essential to building stronger communities and a better future for all,” she said.
She also stressed the importance of reproductive health awareness, noting that girls needed accurate information to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.
In her remarks, the representative of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Murjanatu Saidu, urged girls to take their education seriously, develop relevant skills and speak out against practices that threaten their rights and future.
“Girls must recognise their worth, take their education seriously and build the confidence to speak up against harmful practices. Parents, guardians and community leaders also have a responsibility to create an environment where every girl feels safe, supported and empowered to succeed,” she said.
She further called on parents, community leaders and other stakeholders to work together to protect girls from harmful traditional practices and ensure they have access to opportunities that enable them to contribute meaningfully to society.
Irene Paul, Director Social Welfare, Ministry of Education also urged parents to invest in the education of their girls. She noted that educating the girl child is educating an entire nation.
During an interactive session, girls identified harmful traditional practices, including marriages arranged to serve family or economic interests and the inheritance of widows by male relatives of deceased husbands, as concerns requiring urgent attention.
The participants called for stronger protection of girls and women, respect for individual choices and increased community awareness to address practices that undermine dignity, safety and personal autonomy.
The discussions highlighted the need for sustained engagement with families, traditional institutions and community stakeholders to challenge harmful norms and create safer environments for girls to thrive.
WACHEF also enlightened the community on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and the need for community based response and prevention.
The celebration ended with community members expressing their willingness to work collectively towards addressing harmful traditional practices and advancing the rights and welfare of girls in their communities.
Highlight of the event include distribution of Sanitary pads to promote menstrual hygiene and support their health and dignity, drama presentation on the importance of education, and cultural performances.
The International Day of the Girl Child is celebrated annually on 11 October around the world to promote the rights of girls and highlight the challenges they face. The theme for the 2026 celebration is, “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights”
