As the world commemorates the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child on October 11, I join millions of advocates, development partners, policymakers, parents, and other stakeholders in reaffirming the urgent need to protect the rights, dignity, and future of every girl child.
This year’s theme, “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights,” serves as a powerful reminder that every girl deserves the freedom to grow, learn, make informed decisions about her life, and fulfil her potential without the threat of early marriage, discrimination, violence, or the denial of educational opportunities. The future of our society depends significantly on the investments we make in our girls today.
At Women for Greater Good Foundation (WGGF), our commitment to the girl child goes beyond annual celebrations and advocacy statements. It is reflected in the practical interventions we continue to implement to promote dignity, education, leadership, and empowerment for women and girls.
Through our flagship Flow With Dignity School Tour, we have reached more than 15,000 girls across 35 public schools in Oyo State with education and awareness programmes on menstrual hygiene, sexual and reproductive health, abstinence, and the rights of the girl child.
We believe that access to accurate information empowers girls to make informed decisions, protect their well-being, and pursue their aspirations with greater confidence.
One of the major highlights of our advocacy is the development of our educational resource, Empowered Flow: The Girl Child Guide to Understanding Her Body and Owning Her Story. The book was written to equip girls with age-appropriate knowledge about their bodies, personal dignity, and the importance of understanding their rights.
Officially launched on June 24, 2026, in Ibadan, the book is being made available for free distribution to schoolgirls as part of our commitment to accessible education and empowerment.
In furtherance of this commitment, on October 8, 2026, WGGF distributed 500 free copies of the book to schoolgirls at the alma mater of Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, in recognition of his contributions and support for the girl child.
This initiative reflects our belief that celebrating individuals who support girls’ development should translate into tangible opportunities for the next generation. We appreciate everyone who continues to support our mission of ensuring that girls have access to the knowledge, encouragement, and resources they need to thrive.
Our work also extends to the economic and leadership empowerment of women. Through the Moremi Tech Dev initiative, we trained 30 young women in 2024, providing them with opportunities to develop relevant digital skills.
Through Blaze Her Trail, we supported 15 widows and women living with disabilities, while our Female Roundtable provides a platform for mentorship, engagement, and conversations on women’s leadership and development.
We recognise that empowering girls must go hand in hand with strengthening the opportunities available to women, families, and communities.
As we reflect on this year’s theme, I must emphasise that ending child marriage requires more than condemning the practice. It demands sustained investment in girls’ education, stronger child-protection systems, effective enforcement of existing laws, economic support for vulnerable families, community engagement, and a collective willingness to challenge harmful social norms.
Parents, traditional and religious leaders, governments, schools, civil society organisations, and the private sector all have a role to play in ensuring that poverty, social pressure, and cultural expectations do not rob girls of their childhood and future.
I therefore call on all stakeholders to move beyond conversations and take deliberate action to protect every girl, keep her in school, uphold her rights, and create an environment where she can make choices about her future without coercion.
Every girl deserves to be heard, respected, educated, and empowered. Her dreams should not be limited by her circumstances, and her future should never be decided for her through child marriage.
At Women for Greater Good Foundation, we remain committed to this mission. We will continue to take our advocacy to schools and communities, strengthen partnerships, distribute educational resources, and create opportunities that enable girls and women to live with dignity and purpose.
On this International Day of the Girl Child, let us remember that protecting a girl is a responsibility, educating her is an investment, and empowering her is a commitment to building a better society.
When we invest in girls’ rights, we invest in a future where every girl has the freedom and opportunity to become all she was created to be.
Happy International Day of the Girl Child 2026!
Fatima Hassan
Executive Director
Women for Greater Good Foundation (WGGF)
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