The Fate Of The Girl Child In Nigeria

The girl child in Nigeria has been greatly abused and have not received the right attention needed as young children. It can be recalled that in April,2014, over 214 chibok school girls were abducted, and as I write this article, no one knows the where about of the chibok school girls.

Each time I think about the abducted chibok girls my heart bleeds. My heart weeps for the many innocent girls that have lost their sanity, their pride and their joy as young girls. I weep for the many young girls that have suffered one form of sexual abuse or the other. The many out of school girls. The many young girls who were married out due to poverty or religious belief. The many under aged girls that have suffered unwanted pregnancy and early marriage. Oh what is the hope for the girl child in Nigeria! Where is the pride of the girl child in Nigeria?

It is very unfortunate that Nigeria, is now known as a country where the girl child is vulnerable to all sought of social vices.

Over the last few weeks, the media was awashed with the Ese Oruru story. A young 14 year old girl that should be in school facing her academic was abducted and taking to Kano. It is also disheartening that the young Ese is 5 months pregnant. While the nation was trying to recover from the Ese story, the news came of 3 young girls that were abducted in their hostel in Lagos . All these things happening puts our nation in bad light, as a nation where the girl child is vulnerable to being abused. It puts Nigeria as a country where the strong(rich) can trample on the rights of the weak or the poor.

It is in-line with the recent Ese Oruru ordeal, that I charge all the relevant agencies involved in the nation, the international community and NGOs in the country to see to the fact that the abductor of little Ese is prosecuted accordingly. We must not allow our under age girls fall prey to sexual slavery. We must work towards rescuing our young girls from predators who cannot control thier libido, men  who are aimed at ruining the girl child in Nigeria.

The Issue of rape and sexual assault is a big stigma. It is one that has the tendency of destroying the future of the girl child in Nigeria. And so, the government and  civil societies must continue to work towards bringing culprits of these act to book. The atrocities carried against the girl child in Nigeria must not be swept under the carpet.

The wives of State governors must join hands with relevant agencies of government in check mating the problems of our young children. There is the need to ensure that the child rights laws, policies and programs are carried out.

It is also necessary that the United Nations Convention On Child Rights policies on the rights of children are implemented by State governments across the federation.

Never again must we allow the girl child in Nigeria suffer untold hardship. We must work against sexual harassment, child labour, under age marriage and focus on giving the children of Nigeria good and quality Education, proper health-care, safety and adequate protection.