NNPP calls for action to promote girl-child empowerment

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), on Friday, called for concerted efforts toward addressing the challenges girls face and promoting their empowerment and fulfilment of their human rights.

With specific reference to this year’s theme ‘Girls’ Vision for the future’, the party said government, allied institutions, and generality of the society should share a collective agenda to combat issues that have limited the empowerment and development of girls and in different dimensions so that their future was properly shaped for the attainment of their potentials.

The National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, stated this in a statement to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child, emphasized that girls have the right to a safe, educated, and healthy life, not only during their formative years but also as they mature into women.

According to Johnson, girls in Nigeria have continued to face significant challenges, including gender-based violence, lack of opportunities for education, good health, empowerment, and ignorance imposed by cultural limitations.

He said: “To this end, it becomes imperative for all concerned (government, institutions and the larger society) to come together and share a common agenda to address these serious issues that have regrettably constrained the growth and development of the girls over time.

“Of course, we can rightly align with this situation when we recollect the significant contributions of the Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s legacy to girl-child development in Kano State, a feat now being reinvigorated by the exemplary leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf administration in the state.

“The time has come for their true emancipation through diligent application of laws and moral suasion to push the case for their proper education, health, safety, action against gender-based violence, rape, other cultural limitations, and empowerment.”

Johnson stressed that these were barriers that could debar the girls from achieving the brighter future they envision and deserve and as such institutional efforts in particular must be made to rally the necessary support and investment to actualize their dreams of self-awareness, empowerment, and fulfillment.