Abuja: Nigeria recently underscored its commitment to empowering the girl child during the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child celebration in Abuja. Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu, a paediatrician and the President-Elect of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), highlighted the importance of girls in the nation’s development. She emphasized that governments, policymakers, and the private sector must prioritize girls in decision-making processes, addressing the educational, health, and mental challenges they face.
According to Voice of Nigeria, Dr. Bagudu praised the Ministry of Women Affairs for its leadership under Sulaiman-Ibrahim. She stressed the necessity of focusing national development funds on initiatives that impact the girl child. Dr. Bagudu urged parents to immunize their daughters, educate them on self-examination, and empower them through education.
The celebration in Abuja brought together various stakeholders, from government ministries to development partners, all unified in their message that girls are an integral part of the present and future. The voices of young girls who participated in the event reflected the potential for change and leadership in Nigeria’s future.