The Abia State Government has commemorated the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child with the event featuring lectures, cultural displays, and funfair at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia.
Although officially marked globally on October 11, the day declared by the United Nations is dedicated to recognizing the rights, potential, and contributions of girls worldwide.
Addressing participants at the event, the Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, represented by the Wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adaeze Emetu, emphasized the significance of this year’s theme: “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Front Lines of Crises.”
She called for increased global support for girls, especially in crisis situations, and urged governments to enact policies that protect the girl child.
Mrs. Otti also reaffirmed Governor Alex Otti’s commitment to transforming Abia’s education sector, with a strong focus on equipping girls with digital literacy in an AI-driven world.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Maureen Aghukwa, stressed that girls’ voices matter in schools, homes, and communities, and must be heard. She called on stakeholders to protect girls from abuse, trafficking, and gender-based violence.
In her keynote address, Dr. Ola Ukoha noted that while girls are often vulnerable during crises, access to digital tools and information can build their resilience and amplify their voices.
Highlights of the event included lectures on menstrual hygiene by Dr. Theodora Ngozika of WaterAid Nigeria and a session on “Girls Breaking Barriers” by Ambassador Christabel Ndubuisi, with sanitary pads distributed to all the girls in attendance.
