In 2012, the United Nations (UN) declared October 11th International Day of The Girl Child. Since then, this day has been commemorated internationally to empower girls and to raise awareness about the challenges they face. Every year, the International Day of The Girl Child is an opportunity to highlight problems in education, health, etc. and advance solutions for their alleviation.
There are approximately 1.1 billion (UN women) girls in the world, many of whom lack equal access to opportunities enjoyed by their boy peers. Education, is vital, basic human right to which girls around the world are denied access. According to UNESCO, girls are more likely to never enter primary school than boys. Those who are lucky enough to be enrolled in school will have completion rates lower than those of boys, as their participation dwindles with progression through the education system. As a result, over half, approximately 31 million, of children who are out of school are girls.
Like millions of girls around the world who are denied opportunities, mistreated, and facing adversity, many Nigerian girls are no exception..The result is that Nigerian girls’ secondary school attainment rates are 10% lower than those of Nigerian boys. Without education and training, these girls grow up to have limited opportunities for social and economic progression. Moreover, communities are worse off as significant portions of their populations are uneducated and lack adequate skills to increase productivity.
The main objective of this day is to empower women and help them to get their rights so that they can face the challenges all over the world and meet their needs. Every Girl Child deserves the following:
- “Live free from gender-based violence, harmful practices.
- Learn new skills towards the futures they choose
- Lead as a generation of activists accelerating social change
- Adequate and Quality Education.