Women

THE National council for women’s societies (NCWS) Nigeria, has reiterated commitment to end all forms of abuse on the girl-child.

The National President of NCWS, Hajiya Lami Lau, said this on Wednesday in a statement in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl-Child.

According to her, the council acknowledges the rights of the Nigerian girl-child.

”We salute your resourcefulness, creativity, tenacity, and resilience.

” Our adolescent girls have shown repeatedly that given adequate opportunities and an enabling environment, they can transform our world by driving progress in communities, and contributing to an enviable future.

” We affirm today that it is Indeed the time of the girl-child, time to acknowledge their rights and recreate their future,” she said

Lau said that as the council joined the world to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the International Day of the Girl (IDG) with the theme: It is our time, our rights and our future.

She said that the girl-child deserved full enjoyment of her rights and a future where there was basic assurance that they could grow and live free from abuse and other forms of violence.

Lau said that the Nigerian girl-child has made tremendous progress, breaking barriers and records of achievements.

”Her resilience has been heart-warming and felt in the determination to acquire education and skills.

”We consider the theme of this year’s celebration which captures the unrelenting spirit of the Nigerian girl-child as apt.

”Irrespective of the growing attention on gender equality and rights, the voice of the girl-child is largely ignored.

” They are faced with such challenges as child marriage, child labour, sexual gender-based violence and other forms of child rights abuses with negative implication to their education,” she said.

Lau said that the council remained committed to mentoring and building the agency of the Nigerian girl-child to demand for change.

”We shall amplify their voices and build programmes on the global concerns for the girl-child to contribute to building safe communities.

”Our daughters must now hold mothers accountable to speak up, take action, to protect and to support,” she said.

The national president said that the council would continue to educate and create opportunities for engagement on the welfare of the girl-child. (NAN)

A.I

Tags: Hajiya Lami Lau International Day of the Girl National council for women’s societies