2022 International Day Of The Girl Child: Girl Child Faces Numerous Challenges – Capt. Caleb Danladi Bako
Zainab Tanimu
Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria
Capt. Caleb Danladi Bako is the
Founder, Caleb Danladi Foundation.
A girl child advocate, a man whose passion is that of seeing the girl child asserting her worth in the society.
As the world marks the 2022 Girl Child’s day, the Southern Kaduna Master Mariner and Maritime Expert/Researcher
pours out his heart in his piece, titled, “Our Rights, Our Future”.
Excerpts:
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL CHILD 2022: OUR RIGHTS, OUR FUTURE
By: Capt. Caleb Danladi Bako
The International day of the girl child has been celebrated annually every 11th of October. The purpose of the day is to address the challenges girl-child face and to promote girl-child empowerment and fulfillment of their rights.
It was first observed on 11th October 2012 to recognize the importance of empowering and investing in girls following the adopted resolution 66/170 by the United Nations Assembly in December 2011.
The year 2022 marks the 10th anniversary of the International Day of Girls. The last ten years have seen increased attention on the issues that matter to girls amongst Government agencies, policymakers, human right activist, and the public.
Recent findings from United Nations show that investment in girls’ rights remains limited and girls continue to face unprecedented challenges to their education, and their physical and mental wellness.
Data from United Nations shows that 1 in 4 girls aged 15-19 globally is not in education, employment, or training, compared to 1 in 10 boys. Empirical findings further reveal that girls are primarily victims of sexual exploitation, while boys are mainly subjected to forced labour. These figures are evidence of challenges faced by child girl from families who sees them as liabilities instead of assets to societies who don’t appreciate their abilities and talent because of their gender.
In some societies, many girls continue to be prevented from accessing higher education and are subjected to child marriage and different forms of domestic and sexual violence.
The theme for the year is “our time is now-our right, our future”. This year’s theme focuses on the numerous challenges put in front of girls’ paths to reach their potential.
Girl-child are faced with numerous challenges today. This includes gender discrimination, child marriage, cultural and religious limitation, illiteracy, sexual and domestic violence, and lack of access to basic education, among others. These challenges come with lifelong consequences, not just for themselves, but for society and future generations.
Child marriage is a global problem that cut across countries, cultures, religions, and ethnicities. Early child marriage is one of the biggest challenges for the girl child in Nigeria. According to UNICEF, the rate of child marriage among girls remained high in West Africa (37 percent) with 44% of girls in Nigeria marrying before attaining the age of 18.
The primary reason for such high rates of marriage was found to be a lack of access to education, economic opportunity, and health services, alongside poverty, and religious and cultural beliefs. The practice of marrying off young girls put their lives, well-being, and future at risk. Girls who marry before the age of 18 (child marriage) have a higher risk of experiencing domestic violence and a lower chance of continuing their education. They experience the worst economic and health challenge than their contemporaries who have not married, and these disadvantages are subsequently passed to their children.
Furthermore, child brides are frequently experiencing pregnancy during their teenage age, which is associated with an increased risk of maternal and child mortality.
Girl child education has become a major issue of concern in most developing countries. A recent statistic from UNICEF shows that Nigeria has recorded a total of 18.5 million out-of-school children, of which 10 million are girls. Poverty, a lack of understanding, a preference for male offspring, cultural and religious misconception, conflict and crisis, and trafficking, are among those factors that are thought to contribute to a large number of out-of-school children.
It is widely agreed that if we invest in the education of girls, we will see improvements in the lives of all girls. In every civilization, education is the single most significant agent of social transformation. The development and well-being of a girl child depend on several factors, including access to advice and counseling, role modeling, parental attitude, educational opportunities, and the environment in which the child explores.
Caleb Danladi Foundation is committed to the success of girl child. Over the years, the foundation has not overlooked the clear disadvantage the girl child faces in our society.
The foundation has tailored programs that help girls’ child fulfill their potential while advocating for equality in education access and good quality of life. In commemoration of the international day for girl’s child, Caleb Danladi foundation will be reaching out to girls of public schools in selected communities for value reorientation, awareness, and mentorship. The foundation believes that all girls can be great if only they are given the chance. The time is now.
In summary, the girl-child indeed has a future that must be protected by everyone in society. Efforts should be made towards empowerment for the girl child to enable them to contribute meaningfully to society.
