Many adolescent girls in Nigeria face human rights abuses on a daily basis, including gender-based violence, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, and limitations on their mobility, education, employment, and participation in public life which delay their progression and development and impede their human rights and dignity. As such, it is pertinent to drive programmes and policies that open doors to girls; ensuring participation at all levels towards addressing issues that affect them.
As part of effort in amplifying girls’ voices, Action Health Incorporated (AHI) with support from Rise Up trained sixty (60) girl leaders ages 13-18 from across Lagos State on leadership and public advocacy during a 5 Days’ workshop held in Lagos.
The training was focused on strengthening the capacity of the girls on evidence-based advocacy, media engagement, storytelling, public dialogues to raise discourse and demand for change on girls’ issues in Lagos State. Following the training, the girls are expected to carry out advocacy projects and engage decision-makers and policy-makers at multiple levels on girls’ issues in Lagos State.
According to Adejimi Ibukunoluwa, a participant at the training said that; the programme has given her the opportunity to know more about the issues girls are facing in the country. “I now see myself as a champion and a voice in my community” she said.
Speaking about the training, Funso Bukoye, Programme officer AHI, said that over times; girls’ voices have been clamp down especially on issues that concern them. But this training has raised a new generation of girls that will speak up for themselves and other girls in their communities.
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