The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, in collaboration with Save the Children International and The Women International, today hosted the 2025 International Day of the Girl-Child celebration at the Dr. Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, Abuja, under the global theme: “The Girl I am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Front Lines of Crisis.”
In a gathering that brought together Members of the National Assembly, Ministers, Commissioners, Directors from the FMWASD, Development Partners, Civil Society Leaders, the Media, and hundreds of girls from across the country, the event became a resounding affirmation of the strength, brilliance, and leadership of Nigerian girls in shaping the nation’s future.
Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, FSI, in her keynote address, lauded the courage and potential of the Nigerian girl-child, emphasizing that girls are not merely victims of circumstance but active agents of change who are leading national conversations on education, technology, climate justice, and peacebuilding.
“Today, we celebrate the courage, brilliance, and boundless potential of every Nigerian girl who dares to dream, to lead, and to transform her world,” the Minister declared.
“In investing in girls, we invest in a future where no Nigerian child is left behind. The advancement of the girl-child is not merely a gender issue—it is a development imperative.”
Hon. Sulaiman-Ibrahim highlighted key strides by the Ministry to protect and empower girls, including the review of the Child Rights Act (2003), implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, and validation of the National Policy on Menstrual Health and Hygiene. She also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment as a UN Pathfinder Country in the fight to end child marriage and address emerging threats such as online grooming, cyberbullying, and exploitation.
The Minister called on all stakeholders—parents, teachers, faith leaders, and communities—to nurture safe spaces where girls can thrive without fear and to continue investing in girl-child education as a key driver of national development.