UNICEF urges stronger support for platforms amplifying girls’ voices in Nigeria
By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged stakeholders in Nigeria to strengthen support for platforms that amplify adolescent girls’ voices amid persistent barriers confronting them.
UNICEF Adolescent Development Specialist, Ngozi Izuora-Songu, made the call on Tuesday in Osogbo during a programme tagged “Yes! Girl” watch session for adolescent schoolgirls and boys.
The event featured the screening of selected episodes of the Yes! Girl podcast in a cinema-style setting, with students from three selected schools in attendance. She explained that Nigeria has an estimated 40 million adolescents, nearly half of whom are girls, yet many continue to face significant challenges.
“Many girls continue to face barriers, including limited access to education, harmful gender norms, early marriage, and inadequate access to accurate health information. For instance, millions of girls remain out of school, while many lack safe platforms to express themselves or seek guidance on issues affecting their wellbeing. This is where initiatives like Yes! Girl become critical,” she said.
Izuora-Songu stated that the impact of the podcast has been encouraging, as girls who engage with the platform show increased awareness, stronger self-expression, and a greater willingness to participate in decisions affecting their lives.
She added that the Yes! Girl podcast engagement sessions have so far been conducted across at least four geopolitical zones, with the South-West marking one of the latest stops in the series.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mr Muritala Jimoh, and the State Adolescent Health Desk Officer, Mrs Roseline Akinlabi, commended UNICEF for its continued partnership and urged students to make the most of the opportunity and share knowledge gained with their peers.
One of the participants, Ayanwu Esther of Ataoja School of Science, Osogbo, said the programme had strengthened her confidence and understanding of the need to speak up.
