By Kennedy Sheyin
A Non-Governmental Organisation(NGO), the Tabitha Cumi Foundation(TCF), has enlightened no fewer than 400 girls across Nigeria on girl child rights and financial independence.
The foundation’s Executive Director, Mrs Tayo Erinle, represented by the Programme Manager, Mrs Nendirmwe Ohah, disclosed this at the TCF’s educative session to commemorate the United Nations Day of the Girl Child on Thursday in Abuja.
The theme for 2026 is “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights”.
According to Erinle, no fewer than 400 young girls across communities in Bauchi, Benue, Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) have benefitted from the 2026 enlightenment programme.
She said that the session was held simultaneously across all the states, bringing together girls from select schools and also out of school girls from the selected communities.
Erinle said the foundation thought it wise to bring together students and out of school girls so they can see their different individual perspectives, inspire and learn from each other.
She mentioned Kogo, Pape, Durumi, Jabi, Mapa and Idu-koro communities respectively as communities that have been selected for the session in Abuja.
Erinle added that the TCF was also working towards creating increased awareness for girl child rights and all the key things involved in raising girls, as well as stakeholder roles.
“It is very key for everyone to be involved in raising girls. Not just organisations such as the TCF, everybody has a role to play.
“We are also working with parents of the beneficiaries to create awareness on gender-based violence prevention because it can only happen with our collective support.
“We’re creating a parents club where we create awareness, we educate them on the different tools they could use to support and build family structure that protects girls and helps them achieve their goals,” he said.
She also urged the government to strengthen the implementations of the policies that prevent child marriage and enforce the laws in in communities where the practice is still existent.
Girl Rights Activist and keynote speaker at the educative session, Mrs Sonaya Adeniyi-Fashola, took the girls on the need for financial independence and the importance of having options.
Adeniyi-Fashola advocated the need to invest in young girls to set them up for financial independence in the future through educational scholarships and skills acquisitions.
“It is against this backdrop that we need to put an end to early girl child marriage, because cutting short their destinies by halting their education and marrying them off prevents them from being financially independent.
“Everything points to the fact that when women are allowed to mature physically, mentally, and financially before they get married, their future blossoms.
“Early marriage kills dreams and swallows futures. Girls grow without the option of choosing what they want to be or how to live their lives if they’re given into marriage,” she said.
Adeniyi-Fashola commended the TCF for the initiative and called on other groups, stakeholders and the government to continue the fight against child marriage and violence against girls in Nigeria.
Miss Eze Kelechi, a beneficiary from Kogo community, expressed gratitude to the TCF for the opportunity to learn her rights and how to go about achieving financial independence.
“Today also motivated me to try to do well financially, not just for myself, but so that I can also extend a helping hand to other girls in the future,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Miss Fatima Aliyu from Jabi, said that the session strengthened her confidence to say no when she does not feel comfortable with anyone or in any place.
She said the knowledge would not end with her she would go ahead to teach her fellow students and other girls in her community what she learnt from the educative session.(NAN)
Edited by Yakubu Uba
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