The girl child is celebrated globally every October 11th. A day devoted to the rights of girls and the specific difficulties that girls face worldwide.
This year’s theme: “Our time is now- our rights, our future”, is apt owing to the enormous problems female children constantly face in terms of their physical health, education and wellness.
Rivers State joined the rest of the world to mark the day. The significance of the day was not lost on the government and private organisations who embarked on enlightenment talks to raise consciousness and awareness on the roles and importance of the girl child.
Here, in Rivers State, the state Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo in a goodwill message encouraged  parents and care givers not to discriminate against the girl child.
According to the Deputy Governor, it behooves parents and care givers to mentor the female children to actualise their full potentials, adding that, her office runs the Protect the Girl -Child Initiative Programme to protect, mentor and give the girl-child a sense of belonging.
Also commemorating the day, the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Rivers State Chapter established  a partnership with Mr Dumo Lulu-Briggs for the onward development of the girl child in the state.
Speaking during the courtesy visit to the philanthropist  as part of the day’s celebration, the state Chairperson of NAWOJ, Mrs Susan Serekara-Nwikhana said the partnership will address some problems and challenges confronting girls in the society which are impediments to their well-being in achieving better and quality lives.
In another development, the Chief Executive Officer of Healthy Life Development Initiative, Dr Mfon Utin in a statement tasked government and stakeholders on the need to adopt effective strategies in dealing with girl- child issues in order to groom great women for the future.
The Head of the initiative, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) based in the state also commended the Rivers State Governor, Barr. Nyesom Wike on the recently signed Law on women inheritance.
She however, called on the state government to ensure the implementation  of the recent law and also other existing laws and bills concerning the girl child and the passage of new laws to support them especially on the trending issues of gender based violence, rape, child abuse, child trafficking that are  reported daily in Nigeria.
Still on the celebration of the girl-child, the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, Rivers State Branch held a symposium with the topic: “The Impact of Digitization on the Girl Child Today” spoke to young girls in various schools in Port Harcourt.
The team visited Bloombreed High School, Eleme Junction, Sleek Angels International School, off Ada George Road and Government Girls Secondary School, Oromenike, D line, Port Harcourt.
At Bloombreed School, Ms Chineze Maduka, Chief Executive Officer of Zeline Beauty Company advised all the girls to be careful on what they take from the internet adding that, there are some good influenzas that can mentor young girls and those are the ones the girls should look up to.
At Oromenike  Girls School, Port Harcourt, one of the speakers, Dr Betty Nwoka encouraged the girls to know their fundamental human rights. According to her, this is because the girl child worldwide are faced with challenges every day.
She cautioned them to particularly not to permit any boy or man touch then indecently which can lead to unpleasant situations, if such is done to them, it is a violation of their human rights.
The United Nations in a statement to commemorate the day recognised the fact that female children experience violence throughout their lives in a variety of settings. Subsequently,  challenged girls have to deal with additional obstacles to accessing services and support for a better living.
According to the UN, “ in the last 10 years, there has been increased attention on issues that matter to girls amongst government, policy makers and the general public and  more opportunities for the girls to have their voices heard in the global stage”.
The U.N. also added that investments in girls rights remain limited and girls continue to confront a myriad of challenges to fufil their potentials, made worse by concurrent crises of climate change, COVID- 19 and humanitarian conflict.
The world’s 600 million adolescent girls have shown time and time again that given the skills and the opportunities, they can be the change makers driving progress in their communities, building back stronger for all, including women, boys and men, the UN added.
On December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution 66/170 and designated October 11 every year as the International Day of the Girl Child.

By:  Ibinabo Ogolo