Today, as the world marks the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child, we celebrate the power, potential, and resilience of girls everywhere. The theme, “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontiers of Crisis,” is both a declaration and a challenge, a declaration of the unyielding strength of girls in the face of adversity, and a challenge to all of us to ensure that their voices shape the course of our shared future.
In every part of Nigeria and across the globe, girls are confronting crises from conflict and displacement to climate change, digital inequality, and barriers to education. Yet, even on these frontlines, girls continue to rise as leaders, innovators, and change agents. They are redefining narratives, advocating for justice, and leading solutions within their communities.
Here at the Nigerian Bar Association and Human Rights Institute, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to advancing the rights and dignity of the girl child. We recognise that empowering girls through education, access to justice, and equal opportunity is not merely a moral imperative, it is a strategic investment in the future of our nation.
We therefore call upon governments at all levels, civil society, private sector, and stakeholders to:
- Prioritise protection and justice for girls affected by violence, abuse, and conflict.
- Invest in education and mentorship programmes that equip girls with the tools to lead.
- Ensure digital inclusion and safety, enabling girls to thrive in the evolving global landscape.
- Amplify girls’ participation in decision-making processes at all levels — from the family to the legislature.
To every girl in Nigeria and beyond, I say this:
You are not a victim of circumstance; you are the architect of change.
Your voice matters. Your dreams are valid. Your leadership is essential.
Let us all, as a nation, honour this day not merely in words but through action by building systems that safeguard the rights of girls and create spaces where they can lead, innovate, and transform their world.
Together, let us make Nigeria a place where every girl child can say with pride and conviction “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead.”
Zainab Aminu Garba
3rd Vice President, Nigerian Bar Association
Secretary, NBA-HRI
