UNFPA Urges Governments To Safeguard Rights Of Adolescent Girls
By Sani Adamu Hassan
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has called on governments at all levels to continue protecting the rights of adolescent girls to enable them to reach their full potential.
UNFPA Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Muriel Mafiko, made the appeal during the commemoration of the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC) held at the Government House, Bauchi.
Her message was delivered by the Gender and Reproductive Health Analyst and Bauchi State Programme Officer, Deborah Tabara.
Ms. Mafiko commended the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), Bauchi State, for improving the enrollment and retention of adolescent girls in schools across the state.
In a statement, the UNFPA Executive Director, Ms. Diene Keita, observed that adolescent girls often lose access to education, healthcare, and business opportunities. She emphasized the need to protect their rights and inspire them to believe in their capabilities.
Ms. Keita noted that gender inequality, economic hardship, insecurity, gender-based violence, and child marriage continue to limit the potential of women and girls, urging collective action to reverse the trend.
She added that UNFPA remains committed to providing critical support to adolescent girls globally to help them reshape their future through leadership, creativity, and innovation.
In her remarks, the Bauchi State First Lady, Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed, said that investing in the girl child is an investment in peace, unity, progress, and entrepreneurship.
She expressed satisfaction that the wisdom and voices of adolescent girls would continue to be heard and encouraged them to strive for positive change in the state.
Earlier, the State Project Coordinator for AGILE, Hajiya Ladi Muhammad Hamma, explained that the United Nations annually observes October 11th as the International Day of the Girl Child to highlight efforts aimed at empowering adolescent girls through education, life skills, conditional cash transfers, and inclusion programmes.
This year’s International Day of the Girl Child was celebrated with the theme: “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on t
he Frontlines of Crisis.”
