A charity organisation, Hope Aglow Charity Foundation, has launched a campaign to protect the rights of the girl child, tackle child marriage and promote menstrual hygiene among schoolgirls in Nigeria.
The campaign, launched on Friday at Community Girls’ Secondary School, Elelenwo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, will be extended to other schools across the country in partnership with the United Nations POLAC Foundation.
Founder of Hope Aglow Charity Foundation and Director for Children and Women at the United Nations POLAC Foundation, Amb. Prof. Cynthia Amaka Obiorah, announced the initiative during an event marking the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child.
Obiorah said the campaign would educate girls on personal care, promote menstrual hygiene and encourage them to pursue their education and aspirations without being constrained by harmful cultural practices, particularly early marriage.
She also disclosed that the foundation distributed health kits and menstrual hygiene materials to the students to help reduce the challenges that could affect their school attendance, confidence and well-being.
The foundation also presented copies of Obiorah’s novel, Rough Diamond, to the students to inspire them to overcome challenges, pursue their dreams and contribute meaningfully to society.
Speaking on the theme, “Invest in Girls’ Rights: End Child Marriage. Give Every Girl the Freedom to Choose Her Future,” Obiorah expressed concern over the prevalence of child marriage and the number of girls denied access to education globally.
Citing global figures, she said one in five girls was married before the age of 18, while about 12 million girls were married annually and 133 million remained out of school.
She called for concerted action to reverse the trend, stressing that girls should be allowed to attend school, make informed choices and fulfil their potential.
“Every girl child is a light. A light that must never be dimmed. A light that must never be forced into early marriage. A light that must be allowed to go to school, to dream, to make choices, and to become all that God has destined her to be,” she said.
Addressing the students, Obiorah urged them not to allow societal expectations or harmful practices to limit their ambitions.
“You are not just a bride. Yes, you may choose to be a bride later in life, but that is not all that defines you. You are a leader,” she said.
She added that girls should be recognised as contributors to national development rather than burdens on their families and communities.
“You are not a burden. You are a blessing and a solution provider to your generation. You are not meant to be silenced. You are meant to be heard, to be seen, and to be celebrated,” she said.
Obiorah urged governments, community leaders and parents to strengthen the enforcement of laws protecting girls, keep them in school and challenge cultural practices that undermine their rights and opportunities.
Describing the event as the beginning of a wider intervention, Obiorah said Hope Aglow Charity Foundation would take the campaign to other schools in different parts of Nigeria.
In her response, the principal of the school, Dorothy Ndonake, expressed profound appreciation to the Hope Aglow Charity Foundation for its kind gesture and the distribution of health kits to the pupils. She described the initiative as a welcome intervention that demonstrated the foundation’s commitment to promoting the well-being of children and supporting their overall development.
Ndonake noted that the distribution of the health kits would help improve the pupils’ awareness of personal hygiene and encourage healthy habits. She commended the foundation for extending its support to the school, stressing that initiatives aimed at improving children’s health and welfare were essential to creating a conducive learning environment.
The principal also expressed hope that the gesture would inspire other organisations and well-meaning individuals to invest in the health, education and welfare of children, particularly those from vulnerable backgrounds.
