The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Bayelsa State Chapter, has urged girls to speak out against molestation, abuse and violations of their rights.
The Chairperson of the association in the state, Mrs Grace Orumieyefa, said no girl child should be relegated to the background.
She made the call on Sunday during an event to mark the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, organised in collaboration with Psalm 41 Foundation and Jade British International High School in Yenagoa.
Orumieyefa encouraged girls to stand up for their rights and report cases of abuse through the NAWOJ support line.
Speaking on the theme, “End Child Marriage, Invest in Girls’ Rights (The Naked Truth),” the immediate past Chairperson of NAWOJ in the state, Mrs Maria Olodi-Osumah, emphasised the importance of education in empowering girls to understand and claim their rights.
Olodi-Osumah, who is also Press Secretary to the Wife of the State Governor, warned that child marriage could damage a girl’s self-esteem and jeopardise her future.
She urged parents and guardians to resist attempts to force or cajole girls into early marriage.
The event also featured presentations by representatives of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), counsellors and clerics on personal purity, confidence-building and other issues affecting girls.
Sanitary pads were distributed to participants, while interactive question-and-answer sessions provided an opportunity for the girls to seek clarification on issues affecting their well-being.
