Ahead of the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)-CIFAL Nigeria, in collaboration with the Rivers Secondary Schools Old Boys and Girls 1983 Set Association, will engage students of Archdeacon Crowther Memorial Girls’ School (ACMGS), Elelenwo, Rivers State, Nigeria in a campaign against child marriage and for greater investment in girls’ rights.
The engagement, scheduled for Thursday, October 8, is expected to provide a platform for dialogue, mentorship and knowledge-sharing aimed at encouraging girls to understand and defend their rights, value education and develop the confidence to determine their future.
The Director of UNITAR-CIFAL Nigeria, Mrs Ihuoma Njemanze, disclosed this in a statement issued ahead of the International Day of the Girl Child, marked annually on October 11.
Njemanze said the initiative was designed to draw attention to the rights, potential and leadership capacity of girls, while encouraging stakeholders to create an environment where every girl can grow up safe, educated and empowered.
According to her, the engagement at ACMGS would focus on helping the students appreciate the importance of education, build self-confidence and recognise their capacity to contribute meaningfully to their communities and society.
The initiative comes as the global community prepares to mark the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, an observance established by the United Nations to highlight the rights and challenges confronting girls and promote opportunities for their development.
The 2026 observance places particular emphasis on ending child marriage and investing in girls’ rights, drawing attention to the continuing barriers that prevent many girls from completing their education, making informed decisions about their lives and reaching their full potential.
Child marriage remains a major concern in efforts to advance girls’ education and protection. Early marriage can interrupt schooling, expose girls to health and social risks and limit their economic opportunities, while reinforcing cycles of poverty and inequality.
Beyond legislation and policy interventions, advocates have increasingly stressed the importance of educating girls about their rights and equipping them with the confidence and knowledge to make informed choices about their futures.
It is against this background that CIFAL Nigeria and the 1983 Set Association are taking the International Day of the Girl Child message directly to students, using mentorship and interaction as tools for empowering young girls.
The organisers said the ultimate goal was to contribute to a future in which every girl is safe, educated and empowered to realise her full potential.
The programme will hold at Archdeacon Crowther Memorial Girls’ School, Elelenwo, on October 8, three days before the global observance.