Abuja:The National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) secured a decisive 6-0 victory against Soho24 Foundation in a novelty football match held to commemorate the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the match took place at Sports Park in Abuja and was part of the second edition of a girl-child empowerment program organized by Soho24 Sports Foundation. The event aimed to empower girls through sports development, education, and performance, addressing issues such as child protection, menstrual health, education, skills acquisition, and prevention of child marriage.
Edna Azura, National President of NCWS, emphasized the need for girls to be educated and protected to resist situations that could lead to abuse. She praised the program for equipping over 500 schoolgirls with knowledge about their rights, including the right to speak out and seek help.
The founder of Soho24 Sports Foundation, Ambassador Christy Opara, encouraged the girls to pursue their dreams, warning that early marriage could hinder their education and future aspirations. She called on parents and community leaders to support girls’ education as a means to strengthen communities.
Dorkong Rimdan from the Female Power Menstrual Awareness Initiative highlighted the importance of educating girls about menstrual health and hygiene, using creative methods such as dance to convey this information.
Dr. Hegan Ihuaku and Rosemary Effiong contributed to the discussion by urging girls to report abuse and emphasizing the importance of education and skills acquisition in preventing child marriage.
The event, although affected by an ongoing school strike, successfully engaged numerous schoolgirls in sporting and creative activities, reinforcing the significance of the International Day of the Girl Child, observed annually on October 11.