By CHRISTY TAMAI
On every October 11, the world observes the International Day of the Girl Child. It’s a day set aside by the United Nations to promote the rights of girls and highlight the unique challenges they face.
The 2025 theme, ‘The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead – Girls on the Frontlines of Crisis’, celebrates the resilience, leadership and courage of girls who are shaping change even in the midst of conflict, displacement, and climate emergencies. It recognises that girls are not just victims of crises but agents of transformation. They are young leaders who stand up for education, peace and equality even when the odds are against them.
In conflict-affected areas such as Maiduguri, Plateau and Benue, hundreds of girls face unimaginable risks. These range from school closures to abductions and forced marriages. Yet, even amid insecurity and uncertainty, they continue to show remarkable courage.
A shining example is 15-year-old Amina, who, despite insecurity and the disruption of formal schooling, mobilised her peers to continue learning under a tree. Her determination mirrors that of countless other girls who have refused to let crisis define their destiny.
According to UNICEF, more than 130 million girls worldwide are out of school, and in conflict zones, girls are 2.5 times more likely to be denied education than boys. Despite these staggering odds, many have become powerful voices for peace, environmental protection and gender equality.
A girl child is a female human being below the age of 18 years. According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), a child is “every human being under 18 years, unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier.”
Thus, a girl child is in her formative years, growing physically, mentally, emotionally and socially before adulthood. Legally and socially, she represents the foundation of womanhood and the future of every society. How a girl child is treated reflects the value a community places on equality, justice and progress.
The girl child deserves protection, education, healthcare and freedom from violence or discrimination to reach her full potential. Yet, in many parts of the world (particularly in