By Safiya Stephanie Musa
October 11, set aside as the International Day of the Girl Child amplifies the enormous importance of girl-children against the backdrop of their powers and potentials, and be more intentional about creating opportunities and leveraging their unusual attributes.
World-over, girl-children face gender-based discriminations, marginalizations, and stereotypes, including impugning their rights to life (in extreme cases). For this reason, the International Day of the Girl Child is quintessential and this year, we must re-emphasize access to better health services, and equal opportunities in every aspect of our collective endeavors as a people, without reservation.
The 2021 theme of ‘Digital Generation, Our Generation’ is not only timely but embodies the pending equalization and in cahoots with the force of “an idea whose time has come”.
We are here, we are not ‘ incidental alternatives’; we are partners and critical stakeholders and we won’t settle for anything less if we must meet (or surpass) the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Developments.
Happy International Day of the Girl-Child to all of us including Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Angela Merkel, Yingluck Shinawatra, Kaja Kallas, Sheryl Sandberg, Queen Mina, Moesha, Mervin Azeta, Jojo, Lateefah, Rukky, Abosede George-Ogan, Ibijoke, Joyce Daniels, Mabel Demokun, Fatima Ndanusa, Lois Auta, Adaora Onyechere, Bucky Hassan, the Amazons4change, EFLP2021 Sisters, EduShine Female Ambassadors and Indra Nooyi to mention only a few.
