The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reiterated the transformative impact of empowering adolescent girls on inclusive and sustainable development.
This statement was made during a two-day media dialogue organized to commemorate the 2024 International Women’s Day (IWD).
Speaking at the event, Dr Tushar Rane, the Chief of Field Office of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, emphasized the urgent need to invest in the health, rights, and well-being of adolescent girls.
He highlighted the numerous challenges faced by adolescent girls globally, including early marriage, sexual violence, and limited access to essential health and nutrition services.
Rane emphasized that empowering adolescent girls can lead to transformative changes and contribute significantly to inclusive and sustainable development.
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He underscored the importance of commemorating International Women’s Day and its theme, which focuses on the necessity of investing in women to accelerate progress.
The media dialogue, according to him, aimed to shed light on the commendable achievements of community-based women in the health sector across Bauchi, Gombe, and Taraba states through the mama2mama initiative.
Rane highlighted the crucial role of women as health advocates and educators within their communities, emphasizing the need to empower them with knowledge to lead or participate effectively in community health initiatives.
Furthermore, he urged journalists, particularly those from the Bauchi Field Office, to utilize their media platforms to advocate for the well-being of women and adolescent girls, stressing the importance of setting the public and political agenda to address the needs of women and girls effectively.
He reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to creating a world where every individual can thrive, regardless of gender.
The dialogue, he said served as a platform for stakeholders to discuss strategies to promote gender equality and empower women and girls, aligning with UNICEF’s mission to ensure the well-being of children and women worldwide.
The dialogue which took place in Gombe state, was observed to have drawn journalists from Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba and Plateau states.
