Nigeria girls have demanded for the enforcement of laws prohibiting child marriage and provide support systems for teenage mothers, including access to education and healthcare.
The girls also demanded for targeted economic interventions to alleviate poverty.
The demands were contained in the outcome of the research work carried out by adolescent girls leading projects with the theme: “Shifting the power: Advancing Girl-led research”.
The outcome of the research work which was unveiled at the weekend was sponsored by ActionAid.
The research was carried out in Jigawa and Abuja. A similar one was carried out in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
The girls listed child marriage, education, Digital access and safety; gender stereotypes and socioeconomic exclusion, poverty, access to and control of money, menstrual health, safety and violence amongst others.
The girls in their proposed solutions demanded for a change to harmful “Gender norms and biases through community education and awareness campaigns, promote gender equality by engaging men and boys as allies in dismantling patriarchal structures.
“Enforcing laws prohibiting child marriage and provide support systems. Raise awareness about impacts of early marriage and pregnancy on girls health, education and future opportunities.”
The girls also demanded for increase investment in education infrastructure to improve access, retention and quality for girls. Provide scholarships, mentorship programmes and other incentives to keep girls in school, especially those at risk of dropping out due to poverty and pregnancy.
Reacting to the research work, the Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu said the research work only amplified the voices of the girls, “shedding light, in critical issues, such as child marriage, access to education, gender based violence, menstrual health, economic barriers, and harmful gender norms. Now most importantly, they have not only identified the challenges, but also proposed solutions that reflect their living reality. You say it’s he or she that wears the shoes, knows where it pinches.
“We are only here to amplify it, but it is the girls, speaking by themselves. And actually in Nigeria, our country’s strategy paper, places the agency of women, and girls, at the heart of our work.”
He added, “So we are hoping that this report goes to the right people, and we are able to respond appropriately. So this is not just about, actually, in Nigeria, or Sierra Leone, or even the partners that are involved in this, raising this issue.”
He therefore urged those in positions of authority to ensure that proper actions are taken to address the concerns raised in the research work.
“Finally, we call on society, organisation, policy makers, development partners, community leaders, that this research should be actioned. Let us not just celebrate its launch, let it not be another work on our shelf, in our libraries, but something that we are going to take action on.
“We believe that true transformation happens, when power shifts.
“Those who have been, historically excluded. And when women and girls are equipped to demand their right, and drive change, in their communities. This research is a clear testament to the commitments, sent through girls, not as subjects of research, but as knowledge producers, change makers, and leaders, in their own rights.
“One of the things that came to mind is, these girls will be leaders of tomorrow. We were going to be leaders of tomorrow. Some of us in our country, we believe that our generations are the ones that have been most cheated.
“We are hoping that this generation, that is coming up now, will have the opportunity of becoming the leaders of tomorrow. But when they become the leaders of tomorrow, these things they have picked up from the field, from their peers, will be reflected in their mind, and help them, in making decisions, as it affects, the general population, or the girls population, in the future.
“We believe that, when you get there, you will not act like some of our leaders that we have today.
“So we are going to the next step now, in terms of action, in what has happened, advocating and actioning it.”
