The Esteemhub International Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) working for the enhancement of girl-child status in Nigeria has commended the Niger state government for its political will in the implementation of the Child Rights Act in the state.
The foundation’s executive director, Princess Doo Agbadu, gave the commendation Friday during a State of the Nigeria Girls’ Summit held in Minna.
She said the state government had shown the tremendous political will to protect rights of the girl-child in all ramifications, adding that “this is highly commendable.”
“Niger state is one of the states that has domesticated the Child Rights Act and also established the Child Rights Agency. It has also engaged in several activities towards enhancing and developing the girl Child in the state. These are laudable actions which signified political will of government towards implementing the Child Rights Act,” she said.
Princess Agbadu said while the Foundation had given kudos to the government, “more still need to be done considering the enormous challenges facing the girl- child.”
She listed some of the challenges to include the lack of equal educational opportunities, disasters, early marriage terrorism, adding that “the girl-child has a lot of responsibilities on her shoulders at birth.”
She urged that more civil societies and activists should get involved in sensitisation activities on the girl child rights, stressing that “people need to know more about child rights and what constitute child abuse.”
