Lagos leads bold push for Girl Child education, leadership

Dansol High School, in partnership with the Lagos State Government, joined the global observance of the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child, reaffirming the call to empower young girls through education, health, and equal opportunities.

This year’s celebration, themed “Empowering the 21st-Century Girl,” centred on issues of health, safety, and overall well-being, key areas considered vital to ensuring that girls reach their full potential.

Speaking at the event held at Dansol High School Hall, Agidingbi, Ikeja, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Health, Dr. Oluwatoni Adeyemi, said that good health remains the foundation upon which girls can build successful and meaningful lives.

According to her, a healthy girl is better equipped to make informed choices and pursue her dreams with confidence and clarity.

“You must be healthy to reach your dreams. Health is not just the absence of disease but a complete state of physical, mental, and social well-being,” Ogunyemi said.

She urged the girls to prioritise personal, hand, and food hygiene while maintaining healthy relationships with others, describing good health as “a source of energy, confidence, and focus.”

Ogunyemi also underscored the importance of self-love, saying it helps girls resist peer pressure, abuse, and discrimination while empowering them to aspire for leadership and innovation.

She called on leaders, parents, and mentors to model confidence and fairness, ensuring inclusion and gender balance in all spheres of life.

Reaffirming the Lagos State Government’s commitment to promoting gender equity, she noted that under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the state continues to lead with programmes that protect, educate, and uplift the girl child.

As part of the celebration, Mrs. Adejumoke Ladejobi, Convener of the event, emphasised the need to recognise the value and purpose of every girl.

She noted that every individual and nation has a role in nurturing potential and creating a world that values equality and empowerment.

“When God created woman, He did not do so as an afterthought but as an integral part of His creation plan,” she said.

Ladejobi highlighted that many young girls today struggle with low self-esteem and emotional challenges due to a lack of love and affirmation.

She explained that one of the aims of the gathering was to help girls understand, love, and take pride in their bodies.

“We are here to teach you to love your bodies and to stand for something meaningful,” she said, urging them to embrace self-awareness, confidence, and purpose.

She encouraged girls to break the culture of silence surrounding emotional and social issues, declaring that it is time for them to speak up, seek help, and take charge of their narratives.

“When a girl understands her body and her worth in God, she becomes unstoppable,” she added.

Ladejobi also urged parents and community leaders to invest in preventive education and to engage girls early on issues of menstrual health, hygiene, and mental wellness.

In her remarks, the Chairperson of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), Mrs Risqat Jimoh, described the 2025 theme as a “call to action,” stressing that a healthy, confident, and valued girl has the power to transform her world.

Jimoh identified health as the first pillar of empowerment, noting that proper nutrition, access to healthcare, and accurate knowledge about reproductive and mental health are essential to building confident and capable young women.

She also addressed menstrual hygiene, calling for an end to the stigma that prevents girls from attending school.

“No girl should ever have to leave school because of her period. Her education and dreams must not be interrupted by stigma or lack of resources,” Jimoh said.

On security, she maintained that every girl deserves safety at home, in school, and online, urging parents and educators to teach personal boundaries and digital awareness.

Jimoh further advocated for the inclusion of boys and men in the empowerment process, describing them as crucial allies in fostering respect, equality, and protection for girls.

“True empowerment is not about competition but collaboration built on respect and equality,” she concluded.

The event featured discussions, educational presentations, and interactive sessions designed to inspire girls to embrace leadership, self-awareness, and resilience in shaping their future.