Ahead of the International Day of the Girl Child, the Living Women Heritage in collaboration with proprietors of private schools in the Badagry area of Lagos organised an interschool girls’ football match, with Nimbles School, Oko Afo, Badagry emerging as the winner of the tournament.
​The competition took place among private schools in the Badagry area of Lagos, attracting many young boys and girls, as well as adults from around the place.
​Executive Director of the NGO, Mrs. Felicia Agbude, said the competition was designed to give girls an opportunity to express their sporting talent and create an atmosphere for them to bond.
The International Day of the Girl Child, which is celebrated globally every October 11, is a time to sensitize young girls and foster a positive mindset in them.
​In her address to the young women at the grand finale of the competition, Agbude urged them to resist any attempt by society to undermine their worth.
​”Say no to child marriage, say no to abuse, and say no to rape. Don’t allow people to take advantage of you. Know that you are a blessing to your generation. But you have to work hard to achieve that,” she said.
​She further urged the girls not to bring shame and reproach to their parents.
​”Your parents have invested so much in you. Dare to be different and be committed to your goals in life. It is through determination and the help of God that you can become someone of worth in life,” she stated.
​She added that the NGO’s celebration of the girl child will conclude with a seminar tagged “MENTAL HEALTH 101” on Monday, October 12, at Best Hope School, Magbon-Ibiye Road, Badagry.
​She emphasized, “When we educate the girl child, we protect our future.”
​The International Day of the Girl Child was established by the United Nations in 2012. Its global observance aims to raise awareness about the unique challenges girls face worldwide, such as gender inequality, lack of access to education, child marriage, and health disparities, while championing girls’ empowerment and human rights.
