SOME female pupils in the Federal Capital Territory have called for the domestication and implementation of the Violence Against Person Prohibition and Child’s Rights Act by state governments.
They were joined by 42 young girls from the six geopolitical zones during an interaction and discussion that focused on the norms that limited them as girls.
The girls, aged 15 to 19, developed a charter with a list of demands to address issues in the areas of girl-child education, gender equality and leadership, sexual and reproductive health and access to technology.
Their demands were presented to representatives of the government, Civil Society Organisations, parents and other stakeholders at a two-day Girls’ Voice Summit organised by YouthHubAfrica with support from Ford Foundation.
Njoku David Chibuike of Government Science Secondary School, Pyakasa Maitama, Abuja, emerged winner of the Amend UBE Act Essay Competition.
Adediran Petra Oluwaseyifunmi of Government Science Secondary School, Pykasa Maitama, came second while Binuyo Eridodo Loving Kindness of School for the Gifted, Gwagwalada, came third.
The winners went home with various prizes.
The United Nations Women Country Representative to Nigeria, Comfort Lamptey, hailed the girls on the charter and encouraged them to use the summit as a platform to learn, network and get mentorship to better amplify their voices and speak up for the rights of other young girls.
She said the organisation would continue to support the rights of girls and invest in intergenerational dialogue between young girls and leadership institutions for a better society.
Gender and Development Manager at UNICEF, Maria Machicado, commended the efforts of the young girls for being aware of their rights and demanding for it early.