2026 INT’L DAY OF THE GIRL CHILD: PRISCILLA OTTI VOWS TO PROTECT, EDUCATE AND EMPOWER ABIA GIRLS

The Wife of the Abia State Governor, Mrs Priscilla Chidinma Otti, has reaffirmed her commitment to combating child marriage and human trafficking, pledging to protect girls, defend their rights and invest in their education, empowerment and future.

She made the commitment as Abia State joined the rest of the world to commemorate the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, organised by the Office of the Wife of the Governor in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs, under the theme, “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights.”

The event, held in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, brought together government officials, education stakeholders, development advocates and students to discuss the challenges facing girls and the need to protect their rights and expand opportunities for their development.

Speaking on the occasion, Mrs Otti, emphasised that every girl deserves the opportunity to grow, learn, develop her abilities and make informed decisions about her future.

Priscilla Otti who was represented at the event by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs Adaeze Emetu while reflecting on her own childhood said she understood the dreams, hopes and possibilities that young girls carry, stressing that every girl deserves the freedom to pursue her aspirations without being forced into marriage before she is ready.

“Every girl deserves the time to grow, the freedom to learn, and the right to decide what her future will become. That is the heart of this year’s theme, ‘End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights.’

 Childhood must not be cut short by marriage,” she said.

Mrs Otti maintained that while girls should be encouraged to marry when they are ready, they must first be allowed to complete their education, acquire relevant skills and develop the confidence to make informed choices about their lives.

“As I have consistently maintained, we want our girls to marry, but not as children. We want them to marry when they are grown, educated, skilled, confident, and able to make their own choices,” she added.

Addressing the dangers of human trafficking, the governor’s wife warned that the protection of the girl child must go beyond ending child marriage to confronting other forms of exploitation that threaten girls’ safety and future.

She explained that trafficking often begins with deception, including false promises of employment, attractive travel offers and opportunities presented by people trusted by victims or their families.

According to her, such promises could expose children to forced labour, domestic servitude, sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse.

She urged parents and guardians to verify opportunities offered to their children, particularly those involving travel, employment or unfamiliar intermediaries, while encouraging girls to question suspicious offers and report attempts at exploitation.

“A child is not a commodity. Poverty is not a licence to exploit. And no promise of a better life justifies placing a child in danger,” she stated.

Mrs Otti described the inauguration of the Abia State Task Force on Human Trafficking by the state government, in collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), as a significant step towards addressing the menace.

She called for the prompt investigation of suspected trafficking cases, the rescue and protection of victims, adequate support for survivors and the prosecution of perpetrators.

The governor’s wife also stressed the importance of investing in girls’ education and skills development, noting that access to quality education and opportunities for personal growth would help girls achieve independence and contribute meaningfully to society.

She highlighted programmes of the administration of Governor Alex Otti, including free education, the TechRise programme and the Leadership Academy, as initiatives aimed at creating opportunities for young people.

She also cited interventions through her office and the Safe Tent Care Initiative, which she said were geared towards supporting the development of skills that promote dignity and independence.

Mrs Otti encouraged girls to take advantage of available educational and empowerment opportunities, while urging parents to support their daughters in pursuing their aspirations.

She also called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, teachers and community stakeholders to challenge child marriage, reject human trafficking and build communities where the rights of girls are respected.

Addressing the girls directly, she urged them to recognise the importance of their childhood, education and personal safety.

“Your childhood is your right. Your education is your power. Your safety is your responsibility,” she said.

Mrs Otti reaffirmed her commitment to protecting girls from harmful practices, declaring: “We will not surrender our children to child marriage. We will not abandon them to traffickers.

“We will protect them, stand for them, and invest in them. Because the future of Africa must never be built on the broken dreams of its girls, but on the boundless possibilities of women who were given the opportunity to grow, learn, and lead.”

Cultural dance performance by the students

In her welcome address, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr Mrs Maureen Aghukwa, described child marriage as a serious challenge that deprives girls of their childhood, interrupts their education, threatens their health and limits their future opportunities.

She stressed that no girl should be forced into marriage before she is physically, emotionally and psychologically ready.

Aghukwa said ending child marriage required collective action by government, parents, traditional rulers, religious leaders, teachers and community organisations to protect girls from harmful practices and ensure they remained in school.

She called on stakeholders to strengthen child protection mechanisms, support vulnerable families, challenge harmful cultural practices and ensure that girls understood their rights and knew where to seek help.

“Investing in girls is investing in the future of our families, communities and our state,” she said.

The commissioner also encouraged girls to believe in themselves, take their education seriously and speak up whenever their rights were threatened.

She disclosed that the ministry had embarked on sensitization visits to local government areas and schools, where officials engaged girls and encouraged them to speak openly about their challenges.

According to her, the engagements revealed troubling cases of girls allegedly experiencing abuse but remaining silent because of fear or other personal circumstances.

She urged girls facing such challenges to seek assistance from the Ministry of Women Affairs and other appropriate support channels.

Aghukwa also commended the governor for making education free at the primary and junior secondary school levels, noting that access to education was essential to protecting girls and expanding their opportunities.

The Abia State Commander of NAPTIP, Mr Izunna Iweobi, who delivered the keynote lecture on the theme, “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights,” emphasised the need to protect girls from exploitation and create opportunities for them to realise their full potential.

Mr Izunna Iweobi Guest lecturer

He explained that NAPTIP was responsible for combating human trafficking in all its forms, stressing that girls must never be treated as commodities to be bought and sold.

According to him, girls should be given equal opportunities to thrive in different fields of endeavour.

Iweobi cited prominent Nigerian women, including celebrated novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization and former Nigerian finance minister; Chioma Ajunwa, Nigeria’s Olympic gold medallist; and the late Dora Akunyili, former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), as examples of women who had distinguished themselves in their respective fields.

He said their achievements demonstrated what girls could accomplish when given the necessary support, education and opportunities.

The NAPTIP commander, however, lamented that many girls continued to face challenges, including poverty and displacement caused by terrorism and natural disasters, which could hinder their development and expose them to early marriage, sexual abuse and other dangers.

He encouraged the girls present to remain determined to achieve their ambitions and never allow anyone to make them feel incapable of pursuing their dreams.

“When we empower a girl, we elevate a family out of poverty,” he said.

The keynote speaker, Mrs Nazor Chima, a teenage development coach and founder of Bloom Coaching Circle and Consulting, urged girls to recognise their potential and understand that their future should not be limited by their gender or relationship status.

She explained that child marriage included any marriage or union involving a person below the age of 18, warning that the practice could deprive girls of their education, health, dignity, dreams and, in some cases, their lives.

According to her, ending child marriage required the combined efforts of girls, families, communities and other stakeholders.

“A girl is bigger than her relationship status. A girl is bigger than her reproductive ability. A girl can be much more than a wife and a mother,” she said.

Chima encouraged girls to make informed choices by prioritising their education, identifying their personal values, choosing their friends carefully, paying attention to their safety and acquiring useful skills.

She stressed that education remained essential to achieving their aspirations, urging students to take their studies seriously and develop skills in communication, writing, technology and public speaking.

The development coach also cautioned girls against assuming that every adult had their best interests at heart, advising them to remain vigilant about where they went, the people they associated with and the opportunities presented to them.

She encouraged girls who faced pressure to marry early or experienced threats to their rights to seek assistance from trusted adults and relevant institutions.

According to her, such support could be obtained from the Ministry of Women Affairs, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), school guidance counsellors, church leaders, teachers, relatives and other responsible adults.

Chima further called on parents, teachers, government officials, neighbours and community leaders to take responsibility for protecting girls by providing mentorship, guidance, practical skills and a safe environment in which they could speak openly about their challenges.

She maintained that ending child marriage required sustained commitment beyond annual commemorations, urging communities not to ignore girls who were being pressured into early marriage or facing other forms of abuse.

Also Speaking at the event, Esther Christian, a student of Abia Model Junior Secondary School and a member of the team that emerged champions at an international debate competition recently in Doha, Qatar, described the girl child as a valuable asset to every nation.

She emphasised that education was essential to unlocking the potential of every child, noting that the students’ success at the international competition demonstrated the importance of quality education and adequate preparation.

“We competed against international university students in Qatar. Without a good education, we would not have become champions in Qatar,” she said.

Christian further expressed appreciation to the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) and the Abia State Government for their investment in education and the preparation that enabled the students to excel at the competition.

She encouraged other girls to remain focused on their studies and resist any attempt to discourage them from pursuing their dreams.

In her vote of thanks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Becky Oguama, expressed gratitude to the wife of the governor and other stakeholders whose contributions helped make the event successful.

She encouraged the girls to remain committed to their academic pursuits, strive for excellence and take advantage of opportunities that would help them develop their talents.

The event attracted several dignitaries, including the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof. Eme Uche Eme; the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Philemon Asonye, who was represented by the ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs Obioma Success; and the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Dr Mrs Ngozi Blessing Felix.

Others in attendance included Hon. Mrs Chinenye Nwaka, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Women Affairs; Mr Nnamdi Elekwachi, Director of Administration, Ministry of Women Affairs; permanent secretaries; government appointees and other functionaries; and wives of local government mayors.

The event also featured cultural performances and educational activities by students from schools across the state.

Participating schools included Ndume Otuka Junior and Secondary School, Amafor Isingwu Secondary School, Community Secondary School, University Demonstration School, Umuahia, Icon Builders Secondary School and Osusu Community Secondary School, among others.

The students entertained guests with cultural dances, spelling bee and quiz competitions, as well as drama presentations highlighting the dangers and consequences of child marriage.

The performances underscored the importance of protecting girls’ rights, promoting access to education and discouraging early marriage. Through drama and other educational activities, the students demonstrated how child marriage could jeopardise girls’ education, limit their opportunities and undermine their potential to contribute meaningfully to society.

The commemoration reinforced the message that ending child marriage and investing in girls’ rights required sustained collaboration among government, families, schools, communities and other stakeholders to ensure that every girl could grow up safely, complete her education and pursue her aspirations.