Women lawyers sensitise students on rights and personal safety, donate sanitary pads and other items, and receive a warm welcome at the palace of the Gomo of Kuje.
The International Day of the Girl Child, observed globally on October 11, is an annual reminder of the need to protect girls’ rights, expand their access to education, promote their wellbeing and ensure that their gender does not limit their opportunities or determine their future. Beyond celebration, the day calls for sustained action against child marriage, discrimination, sexual abuse and other harmful practices that threaten girls’ safety, dignity and development.
For 2026, the United Nations adopted the theme, “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights,” drawing attention to the urgent need to protect girls from early marriage while investing in their education, health, safety, leadership and freedom to shape their own futures. The United Nations estimates that more than 12 million girls are married before the age of 18 every year, underscoring the importance of sustained government action, community engagement and public awareness.
It was against this background that the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, Abuja Branch, took its girl-child rights campaign to Junior Secondary School, Kuje, Abuja, on October 23, 2026, as part of activities commemorating the International Day of the Girl Child and marking the branch’s 35th anniversary.
Led by the Chairperson of FIDA Nigeria, Abuja Branch, Chioma Onyenucheya-Uko, Esq., the delegation engaged students in an awareness programme focused on their rights, personal safety, education, protection from abuse and the importance of speaking out when their wellbeing is threatened.
The outreach was organised in partnership with Ruhnaysons Consultant Limited and the Embracing the Girl Child Initiative Foundation, with representatives of other civil society organisations joining the engagement. The team also distributed sanitary pads and other items to the students, combining rights education with practical support for the girls.
FIDA Abuja Chairperson Calls for Greater Protection of Girls
Addressing the students, Onyenucheya-Uko explained that the visit was designed not only to celebrate the girls but also to equip them with information that could help them recognise their rights, protect themselves and make informed decisions as they grow.
She emphasised the importance of educating girls about personal safety, their rights and the steps they can take when faced with abuse or other threatening situations.
The FIDA Abuja Chairperson said the engagement was intended to conscientise the students about issues they needed to understand and the safety guidelines that could help protect them and secure a better future.
She also called for the law to take its full course against persons found responsible for rape and other forms of abuse, whether physical or emotional. Her message reinforced the need for accountability, vigilance and collective responsibility in creating environments where girls can learn and grow without fear.
The students were further sensitised on the importance of speaking out and reporting sexual abuse. The engagement encouraged them to recognise that abuse should not be concealed or endured in silence and that seeking help is an important step towards protection.
The programme also highlighted the responsibility of parents, carers and community members to pay closer attention to the welfare of girls, listen to their concerns and respond appropriately when their safety is at risk.
School Principal Reaffirms the Importance of Girls’ Education
The school principal welcomed the visit and expressed appreciation to FIDA Abuja and its partner organisations for bringing the campaign directly to the students.
Reinforcing the importance of education, the principal echoed the familiar maxim, “Educate the girls, educate the nation,” stressing that educating a girl has benefits that extend beyond the individual to the family, community and wider society.
The principal also challenged the restrictive notion that a girl’s education and future should be confined to domestic responsibilities, noting that education can take girls as far as their abilities and opportunities permit.
The message aligned with the central objective of the International Day of the Girl Child: ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to develop her abilities, pursue her ambitions and participate meaningfully in society.
For the students, the engagement offered an opportunity to learn about rights and personal safety in a setting that connected these issues to their everyday experiences. The distribution of sanitary pads and other items further complemented the awareness exercise, acknowledging practical needs that can affect girls’ comfort, dignity and participation in school.
Royal Visit: Gomo of Kuje Welcomes FIDA Abuja Delegation
A significant highlight of the outreach was the delegation’s courtesy visit to the palace of the traditional ruler of Kuje, the Gomo of Kuje, who warmly received the women lawyers and their accompanying partners.
The visit extended the campaign beyond the school environment, recognising the importance of community and traditional leadership in promoting the protection, welfare and development of women and children.
During the visit, the Embracing the Girl Child Initiative Foundation presented a polo T-shirt to the traditional ruler as a gesture of goodwill. The presentation formed part of the engagement with the palace and added a symbolic dimension to the collaboration between the participating organisations and the community.
The palace visit also reinforced the need for sustained engagement with families, community leaders and other stakeholders whose influence can help shape attitudes towards girls’ education, child marriage, sexual abuse and the protection of children.
By taking the campaign to both the school and the palace, FIDA Abuja and its partners broadened the reach of the commemoration, connecting school-based sensitisation with community engagement.
FIDA Abuja @35: Celebrating a Legacy Through Community Service
The Kuje outreach also carried special significance within the wider programme marking 35 years of FIDA Abuja.
The branch’s official history records its inauguration on December 7, 1991. Since its establishment, FIDA Abuja has formed part of the wider movement of women lawyers working to promote, protect and preserve the rights and welfare of women and children through legal intervention, advocacy and related services.
The anniversary therefore provides an opportunity not only to reflect on the branch’s history but also to demonstrate the continuing relevance of its mission. The Kuje visit brought that mission into a practical community setting by placing girls’ rights, education, safety and development at the centre of the commemoration.
Special recognition goes to Chioma Onyenucheya-Uko, Esq., and her Executive Committee for their leadership and commitment to the branch’s work. Appreciation is also due to the FIDA Abuja members who contributed their time, effort and support to ensure that the visit was successfully carried through.
The FIDA Abuja @35 Anniversary Planning Committee, chaired by Dr Princess Frank-Chukwuani, also deserves commendation for its role in the anniversary programme and for supporting a commemorative period that connects the branch’s institutional milestone with its continuing advocacy responsibilities.
The collaboration with Ruhnaysons Consultant Limited and the Embracing the Girl Child Initiative Foundation further demonstrated the value of partnerships in advancing shared objectives. Their participation helped bring together professional legal advocacy, civil society engagement and practical support for the girls reached by the programme.
The involvement of other civil society representatives also reflected the importance of collective action in addressing challenges affecting girls and women. Protecting girls requires more than the work of any single organisation; it calls for cooperation among legal practitioners, schools, families, community leaders, civil society groups and public institutions.
A Call for Sustained Action Beyond the Commemoration
The Kuje outreach served as a reminder that the protection of the girl child must extend beyond an annual observance. Awareness programmes are important, but their impact must be reinforced by consistent support for girls’ education, effective responses to abuse, responsible parenting, community vigilance and the enforcement of laws designed to protect children.
Girls must be able to attend school, understand their rights, seek help when they are unsafe and grow without the threat of abuse, discrimination or early marriage. Their ambitions should be encouraged, their voices heard and their futures protected.
For FIDA Nigeria, Abuja Branch, the visit represented a practical expression of its commitment to women’s and children’s rights, as it marks 35 years of service. Through the leadership of Chioma Onyenucheya-Uko and her Executive Committee, the contributions of participating FIDA members, the efforts of the anniversary planning committee under Dr Princess Frank-Chukwuani, and the partnership of Ruhnaysons Consultant Limited and the Embracing the Girl Child Initiative Foundation, the campaign brought the message of girl-child protection directly to the school and the wider Kuje community.
Ultimately, the message from Kuje was clear: every girl deserves the right to learn, to live safely, to be protected from abuse and to determine the course of her own future. Ending child marriage and safeguarding girls’ rights require sustained investment, responsible leadership and collective action long after the commemorative month has passed.
Related News:
FIDA Abuja @35: Dr Princess Frank-Chukwuani Reflects on 35 Years of Justice, Service and Impact
EGCI Takes Girl Child Outreach to Abuja School
United Nations — International Day of the Girl Child
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behind Games Village, Abuja
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