By Favour Chioma
October 11, 2025 – Ilorin, Nigeria
On this International Day of the Girl Child, under the resonant theme “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontlines of Crisis,” the Leadership Empowerment Advocacy and Humanitarian (LEAH) Foundation stands in solidarity with every Nigerian girl facing unimaginable adversities. As a women-led organization dedicated to empowering women and girls affected by persecution, terrorism, and socio-economic challenges, we call upon the world to recognize not just the plight of these girls, but their unyielding potential to drive Nigeria’s recovery and transformation.
This was contained in a statement Signed by Dr. Gloria Samdi Puldu, President, LEAH Foundation
According to the statement, in Nigeria, the girl child endures a crisis that demands urgent global attention. Nearly 5 million adolescent girls are out of school, robbed of their right to education by conflict, poverty, and cultural barriers. Child marriage affects a staggering proportion of young women, with many married before age 18, perpetuating cycles of poverty and violence.
Gender-based violence, and attacks on schools compound these issues, leaving girls vulnerable in conflict zones like the North-East and North-West. The maternal mortality rate stands at 576 per 100,000 live births, one of the highest globally, underscoring the dire health risks faced by young mothers. Stories like that of Leah Sharibu, abducted for her faith and resilience, remind us of the thousands of girls still in captivity or struggling to reintegrate, facing stigma and trauma.
Yet, amid these crises, Nigerian girls are rising as leaders. They are the change-makers organizing communities, advocating for peace, and innovating solutions to rebuild our nation. At the LEAH Foundation, we are committed to supporting this transformation through advocacy, education and empowerment programs that equip girls to lead.
We urge governments, international partners, and communities to invest in girls’ rights: End abductions, ensure safe education, combat child marriage and forceful conversions of abducted girls, and provide psychosocial support for survivors. Together, let us amplify their voices and secure a future where every girl thrives.
