By Tony Adibe
The Founder/Chief Executive Officer of an NGO, Hope For African Children, Noel Ifeanyi Alumona has celebrated 500 girls drawn from secondary schools in Enugu State, emphasising that any investment in the education, empowerment, and wellbeing of the girl child is a worthy investment in Nigeria’s future.
This is as Nigeria joined the rest of the world to celebrate the International Day for the Girl Child on Friday, 11th October, 2024.
Alumona also called on the Governor Peter Mbah-led administration of Enugu State to henceforth “prioritize the needs of the girl child,” insisting that the future of “our nation rests in the hands of our young girls”, hence “we must invest in building their capacity, agency and education.”
The CEO of Hope For African Children spoke at the summit tagged “Girls Dare To Lead,” held at Golden Top Hotel, Enugu to commemorate the annual International Day of the Girl Child.
NewsBits reports that the theme of this year’s event is “Let Girls’ Lead “, and it was attended by 500 young girls taken from 32 secondary schools within the state, as the main hall of the hotel was filled with teachers, parents, and guests.
“Most importantly, we’ve gathered here to inspire, educate, and equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to reach those aspirations and to pursue their dreams with unwavering confidence,” Alumona reiterated.
“This is why I am using this opportunity to call on the government, beginning with our own Enugu State,to prioritize the needs of the girl child,” said Alumona, whose speech was read by his representative on the occasion, Joan Ndulue, a Communication Staff of Hope For African Children.
According to Alumona, HOPE would continue to “champion girls’ leadership, invest in girls’ education, while urging the government and partners to provide girls with access to quality healthcare, and create safe and supportive environments for their growth and development.”
He said by doing so, “we will continue to build a stronger, more equitable, and prosperous Nigeria for all. Above all, Let Girls Lead!”
He explained that one of those girls’ needs “is keeping girls in school by providing access to sanitary pads in schools to ensure that no girl misses school because she cannot afford hygiene products,” adding that “girls know what they want, and this (pad) is on the top of their list.”
He described the annual gathering, as a testament to the power of “our young girls” and their “unwavering determination to shape a brighter future for themselves, their communities, and the world at large.” He recalled that eleven years ago, when he founded HOPE for African Children, their commitment had always been “Putting Girls and Children with Disabilities First.”
He said: “We’re ensuring that girls and young people with disabilities are not left behind – through inclusion, education, equal pay and opportunities.
“At Hope for African children, we believe that every girl deserves the opportunity to reach her full potential. And just as the theme for today’s Summit says, “Let Girls Lead”, we are committed to empowering girls to lead, providing them with the tools and resources they need to succeed, and inspiring them to become leaders of both today and tomorrow.
“We are preparing girls to lead in every sphere of their lives before and after 18, and we thank our staff and volunteers who show up every day to make this important work happen.”
However, the state Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs, and Social Development, Ngozi Enih said the government through the ministry was committed to promoting the rights of the girl child. “As a girl-child, you have the right to life, education, non-discrimination, and protection from abuse and many others,” Enih said.
While stressing that empowering girls “is empowering humanity,” Enih lauded Hope for African Children for “their dedicated outreach to girls with disabilities, which aligns closely with His Excellency Dr. Peter Mbah’s inclusive policy.”
“In the Ministry, we advocate against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) like rape, female Genital mutilation, trafficking, prostitution, forced marriage, domestic violence and many others, we also offer help to victims of GBV,” said the Commissioner, who was represented by Mrs. Chiamaka Okolo.
According to her, the ministry has always supported initiatives that enhance the healthcare and overall well-being of girls, noting that the ministry also “supports organisations working for girl-child empowerment.”
She said that the Governor Mbah-led administration “ensures that everyone, regardless of background or ability, has a place in shaping the future of Enugu State,” adding: “To those of you here today, your presence proves that disability is not a limitation. Never think less of yourself because of it.”
Enih said: “I encourage each of you to speak up and demand to be heard. Challenge the norms and biases that try to limit you, you are not weak, less intelligent, you are not an object for male pleasure.
“Embrace your uniqueness and individuality, and never compromise on your values and aspirations. Stand strong against societal vices like premarital sex, early marriage, peer pressure, cultism and any behaviour that seeks to undermine your potential.”
The summit featured the Girls Innovate Prize by HOPE, a competition, which “is designed to foster creativity, problem solving, and leadership among our young girls” ; unveiling of The PadHER Project by HOPE, an initiative aimed at addressing the critical issue of period poverty in Nigeria, as “millions of girls across the country miss school every month due to their lack of access to sanitary pads”; and the launch of the “Girls Dare to Lead Bootcamp,” a leadership development programme designed to amplify the agency of girls and help them see themselves as leaders.
Alumona said that by encouraging them to identify problems in their schools and communities and develop innovative solutions, “we are empowering them to become change-makers and agents of positive transformation. Girls who are bold leaders and innovators.”
This project seeks to bridge this gap by advocating for government support to provide free sanitary pads and safe spaces for girls in schools, according to Alumona, who quickly added that “by ensuring that girls have access to menstrual hygiene products, we’re making sure that they stay in school and continue their education without the fear of being stained.”
Hundreds of sanitary pads were distributed free by the HOPE volunteers to all the students who attended the ceremony. “We believe that by equipping girls with the necessary leadership skills, knowledge, and opportunities, we can inspire them to lead boldly and make a difference in their communities,” Alumona said.
