2025 International Day Of Girl-Child: “Girls Are Leaders, Change, The World Needs”– Group

By Samuel Ogude

Lighted Women Foundation has called on the world at large and Nigerians in particular to invest in children especially the girl-child since they are the leaders and ones to change the world for the better.

The organization made this call as it celebrated on Saturday, 2025 International Day of Girl-Child at Prudent Brain School, Effurun, Delta State.
Speaking at the ceremony, the founder of Lighted Women Foundation, Mrs Ejiro John Esq. said there is need to celebrate the girl-child who has big dreams and refuses to give up against all odds and stands in the faces of crisis.

Her words:” Today, globally, the 11th day of October, is set aside by the United Nations to celebrate the girl-child recognizing the powers, potentials and promise of every girl around the world”.

According to her, the foundation decided to celebrate the girl-child on the ground that despite the talents and uniqueness qualities the girl-child has, many a time, they are relegated to the background by the society just as she said they sometimes face all forms of social violence which include rape, among others.

Mrs John said, the girl-child may be seen as weaker vessel but in actual sense, they are agents of change and leaders the world really needs.

Mrs John admonished parents to give their children especially, the girl-child proper parenting and invest in them by way of education to enable contribute their quota to nation building.

She reminded the girls they are very special person that God has created to fulfill God’s purpose on earth just as she charged them to make a difference in their life by avoiding bad friends who may lure them into prostitution and other social vices.

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Her words:” You are talented, unique, see greatness in you, you are not just existing, there is purpose you are born…you are not just girl by mistake, so be bold, let your voice be heard…it doesn’t matter what the challenges are, or society or your parents are saying,only you can change the narrative”.

She told the girls that they can be great and contribute to the nation building like the Director General of World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-lweala, a Saudi Arabian Scientist and Innovator, Dr Hayat Sindi, the 1st woman black who is the Vice President of United States of America, Kamala Harris, among others.

On her part, Mrs Iroro Akpodovan Esq. said, the girl child is the future of the nation as without a girl, there would be no man. According to her, the girl-child is an endangered specie in Nigeria as they face different challenges such as lack of education and sexual abuses such as rape, ignorance and poverty which is occasioned by parents’ inability to take care of their children which exposes them (children) to all forms of abuse. She however said, the government has brought about legislation to protect the right of the girl-child adding, one of such is the right to education among others.
She charged the girls to be educated to be better persons in future.

Others who spoke include: Ukeke Ogochukwu Gloria, a medical personal who spoke On “Women’s Hygiene”, Karo Emuakpeje, Nigerian Girl Guide who spoke on :”The Need To Empower Girl-Child To Dream Big And Break Barriers” in every area of their life, among others.
The highlight of the programme was dances, dramas , debates , poems recitation and lot of others by students of Prudent Brain and UNIBEST Schools for the entertainment of guests.