Today is the International Day of the Girl Child. The theme is “Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being” – UNICEF and partners call for a $1 billion increase in investments for adolescent girls.
Famous Billionaire and Founder of Spanx, Sara Blakely, said “When you help a woman fulfil her potential, magic happens.”
But what happens when we don’t give girls the wings to fly?
We lose so much magic!
Our hopes of making the world a better place now has to take a longer time for us to realize because we’ve stopped a large segment of our population from making a difference. Think about all the inventions, music, scientific discoveries, companies, books and innovation we will never have because some lovely girls were told that these things were only for boys.
Is that the world we want to continue living in?
A world that squashes the dreams of an entire gender and snuffs out flickers of possibilities?
Absolutely not!
My name is Roseline Adewuyi and today, I stand before you to champion a cause that is not only important but necessary for the future of our world – investing in girls’ rights.
Imagine a world where every girl, regardless of her background and race has the opportunity to succeed, lead, and contribute to a better world. We would enjoy unparalleled benefits in every sector of the economy and we would be grateful for it. I mean, think of the contributions of people like Rosa Parks, Oprah Winfrey, Chimamanda Adichie, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Rihanna, Ada Lovelace and too many others. What if we had so many girls like them during the time they were girls? Girls who were taught against the patriarchy and given opportunities. The world would certainly be a lot different from what it is today!
Now, we can’t change the past but we change the future starting now.
What if we came together to say no to the archaic systems that have held us down? What if we gave girls their spark and let them shine? What if we allowed girls to dream without restrictions?
No, it is not a pipe dream, we can achieve that by investing in the rights of the girl child.
Girls are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are the leaders of today. Their potential is boundless, but too often, it remains a potential due to barriers, such as restricted access to education, healthcare, and opportunities. But by channeling our resources into empowering girls, we are nurturing a generation of leaders who will drive positive change and tackle the global challenges we face.
When we invest in our girls, we create a ripple effect of change that cuts across families, communities, and nations. It’s an investment in our collective well-being, as empowered girls lead to healthier societies, stronger economies, and more peaceful nations.
We cannot afford to overlook the urgency of this situation. UNICEF, alongside a powerful coalition of partners, calls for a significant and necessary increase of $1 billion in investments for, and with, all adolescent girls. The $1 billion investment is not just a financial commitment; it’s a moral imperative. It’s a statement that we believe in the power and potential of every girl. It’s a pledge for a world where no girl is left behind.
Let us unite behind this cause. Let us invest in girls’ rights, let’s commit to a more inclusive, and equitable future!
Happy International Day of the Girl!
Kindly watch the video here : https://youtu.be/QnrXfPZwfsw