The Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa has solicited collective efforts from Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), development partners, and other stakeholders in creating an enabling environment for girl-child to thrive.
Musawa was speaking in a Keynote address at the biennial State of the Nigerian Girls Summit (SONGS) in Abuja on Friday.
According to the minister, to be successful, there is need for the girl child to show committment and dedication to attain greater heights and for stakeholders in the education sector to provide the enabling environment for them to succeed.
”It is our collective responsibility to create an environment where every girl feels safe, respected, and valued.
”The vision Nigerian girls have for their future is bold, clear, and achievable. It is a vision of a society where they are free to dream, to lead, to innovate, and to thrive.
”It is a vision that calls on each of us to do our part, whether in government, civil society, or the private sector, to create a world where girls are not just seen but are heard, respected, and empowered to shape their own destinies.
”To the girls here today, I say this: your future is bright, your dreams are valid, and your voices matter. Together, we will continue to build a Nigeria that is worthy of your vision.”
She identified skill acquisition as key to the attainment of the girl child aspiration stressing the need to provide platforms, mentorship, and resources for girls to use their talents to drive innovation.
Also, the SONGS Committee CO-Chair, Mr Tunde Aremu, stressed the need to conduct regular research, ensuring thorough documentation and collective response that would address the harmful practices inimical to the growth of the girl child.
Aremu who called for total overhaul of cultural practices that are harmful to the well-being of the girl child, urged the media to continue to raise awareness and interactive session that would emancipate the girl child in the country.
The Senior Officer for Gender in Africa Country Focal Point, Nigeria Girls Not Brides, Mrs Okeke said their vision was to have a world without child marriage where every girl and women enjoy equal rights and status as boys and men.
” And to achieve this, we are constantly empowering organisations who work with girls to empower them and promote their agency.
“Child marriage is a violation of the rights of girls and limits expression of other basic rights such as the rights to education, freedom and protection.”
Joy Ogah, a Girl Rights Activist called on the Federal, state, and local to enforce the Child Rights Act.
Highlight of the event was the launch of the report of the 2024 state of the Nigerian girl child.
