UNIC partners four NGOs, marks Girl-Child Day in Zaria, Lagos

The United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Lagos in collaboration with four Non-Governmental organisations (NGOs) has organised two events in Zaria, North-West and Lagos, South-West Nigeria to mark the 2015 International Day of the Girl Child, in continuation of its quest to building a strong civil society partnership and hinging its public information responsibilities on observance of international days,

The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his message delivered by the National Information Officer, Oluseyi Soremekun at the event held at the Holy Child CollegeLagos, called on everyone ‘to invest in today’s adolescent girls so that tomorrow they can stand strong as citizens, political leaders, entrepreneurs, heads of their households and more. This will secure their rights and our common future.’

The event put together in partnership with International Charitable Initiative for Girl Child and Woman Development Foundation (ICI-GWODEF), Zonta International Club of Lagos 1 and Initiatives for sustaining Gender Empowerment, was attended by 335 participants of whom 272 were girls from 13 schools while others were representatives of the media and other NGOs.

Speaking further, the Secretary General noted that it was time to work on meeting the SDG targets and giving’ girls all the opportunities they deserve as they mature to adulthood by 2030. ‘That means enabling them to avoid child marriage and unwanted pregnancy, protect against HIV transmission, stay safe from female genital mutilation, and acquire the education and skills they need to realize their potential,’ he added.
Engaging with about 100 young girls in Zaria at a forum organised in collaboration withArewa Women and Youth Empowerment (AWAYE) Foundation, the Director of UNIC Lagos, Mr Ronald Kayanja, stressed the importance of education which he said could break intergenerational transmission of poverty, illiteracy, violence and discrimination.

He enjoined the girls to be dedicated to their studies to ensure timely completion of their education for their better future. The Director expressed his delight about many of the girls who spoke to share their ambitions which ranged from legal practice to medical science.
Speaking in Hausa language, the Executive Director of AWAYE foundation, Hajiya Laila Muhammad had earlier urged the girls to always seize every learning opportunity they come across in life.