On the Occasion of the International Day of the Girl Child

Theme: “The Girl I Am, the Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontlines of Crisis”

Today, as the world commemorates the International Day of the Girl Child, we, the Gender Justice Champions of the Nigeria Faith to Action Network, join millions of voices across the globe to affirm the dignity, agency, and transformative potential of every girl child.

This year’s theme “The Girl I Am, the Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontlines of Crisis” calls our attention to the resilience and courage of girls who, even amid social, economic, and environmental crises, continue to rise as innovators, peacebuilders, caregivers, and change agents in their communities.

In Nigeria and across West Africa, girls face numerous challenges from gender-based violence, harmful cultural practices, and unequal access to education, to early and forced marriages, and digital exclusion. Yet, in the face of these obstacles, Nigerian girls continue to stand firm, raising their voices for justice, climate action, education, and leadership.

As Faith Leaders and Gender Justice Advocates, we believe that faith communities must be safe and empowering spaces for girlsnurturing their dreams, protecting their rights, and amplifying their leadership. We draw inspiration from our shared belief in the inherent worth of every human being, created in the image of God, and therefore deserving of equal opportunity and protection.

Our Commitments

We therefore commit ourselves to:

• Advocate for policies and programs that guarantee the safety, education, and empowerment of every girl in Nigeria.
• Engage faith and community leaders to end child marriage, sexual violence, and all forms of discrimination against girls.
• Promote gender-responsive faith teachings that affirm the value, voice, and potential of the girl child.
• Support platforms where girls can participate meaningfully in decision-making within faith institutions, communities, and public life.
• Stand in solidarity with girls in crisis-affected areas—displaced, marginalized, or silenced—ensuring they are not left behind.

Our Call to Action

On this International Day of the Girl Child, we call on government agencies, faith-based organizations, schools, the private sector, and parents to invest in the girl child not as a matter of charity, but as a pathway to a just, peaceful, and thriving society.

Every girl deserves to live free from fear, to dream without limitation, and to lead with confidence.
The girl child is not the problem she is the promise.

Signed:
The Nigeria Faith to Action Network Gender Justice Champions
(For and on behalf of Faith to Action Network, West Africa Hub – Anglophone)