October 10, 2024

Key note speech on the International Day of the Girl Child 2024

October 10, 2024

Key note speech on the International Day of the Girl Child 2024

Your Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Dear Girls and Boys,

It is a joy to join you today on the occasion of the International Day of the Girl Child—a day that highlights the immense potential of girls across the globe and calls for our collective commitment to creating a world where every girl can thrive.

My name is Toyin Saraki, Founder and President of The Wellbeing Foundation Africa, an organisation that prioritises health, wellbeing, and dignity for women, girls, and children in Nigeria and beyond, working at the intersection of frontline impact and global advocacy aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Today, we celebrate the boundless promise that each girl represents. Girls are the beating heart of our future, and the leaders of today. With resilience, courage, and clarity of vision, they continue to rise, even in the face of unprecedented challenges—from climate crises to inequality, from conflict to economic uncertainty. Their strength gives us hope, and their potential compels us to act.

This year’s theme, Girls’ Vision for the Future, encourages us to listen closely to the dreams and aspirations of our girls. It challenges us to amplify their voices, recognise their leadership, and invest in the opportunities that will allow them to flourish. Girls are not waiting for permission to lead—they are already shaping their communities, innovating, and inspiring others.

However, to fully unlock this potential, our girls need allies—allies who listen, invest, and act. And that is where we all come in, as leaders, as parents, as policymakers, and as members of civil society. Our role is not only to protect girls but to uplift them—providing the resources and platforms that allow them to reach new heights. We must all work together to ensure that girls are free to dream, free to learn, and free to lead.

At the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, we have seen the transformative power of investing in girls. Through the Wellbeing Foundation Africa Women, Girls, and Gender Development Targets, guided by the Girl Declaration; the G7 Recommendations for Action from the Gender Equality Advisory Council; and the Nairobi Statement on ICPD, our adolescent health programming empowers our youth with essential knowledge on sexual and reproductive health, digital literacy, and leadership. We see firsthand the ripple effect this has—not only in their lives but across entire families and communities. When we equip girls with tools for success, we see nations grow stronger and futures grow brighter.

Our Personal, Social, and Health Education Skills and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene programming, particularly through the WBFA Dettol Nigeria Hygiene Quest Curricula, is a shining example of this impact. By focusing on WASH, we are working to close the gender gap in education and improve health outcomes for girls. Since February of this year, Phase 2 of this programme has already reached 57,900 girls in schools and 3,393 girls in communities, with an ambitious target of over 248,000 children across 620 schools within this phase, and the aim to achieve 6 million Nigerian Children by 2025. The positive results speak to the critical importance of investing in areas that empower girls to realise their rights and reach their full potential.

Our work is far from over, we must accelerate our efforts and continue to break down the barriers that hold girls back. From gender-based violence to harmful traditional practices, from limited access to education to inequities in healthcare, the challenges are many – but we have the knowledge, resources and power to change this.

Let us imagine, together, a world where every 1.1 billion girl today is valued, respected, and given the opportunity to shine. A world where she is free from fear and harm, free to pursue her dreams with confidence. A world where girls are not only protected but celebrated for their contributions to society.

To all the girls in this room, your vision matters, your voice matters, your dreams are important, and you have within you the strength to shape the future. We are here, not just as bystanders, but as your allies, ready to support you every step of the way, and to the boys here today, you are also a vital part of this journey, as HeForShe allies, your role in promoting gender equality is essential. Stand with your peers, and help create a world where both girls and boys can thrive equally.

Let us create a world where every girl not only dares to dream, but is engendered to lead, transform, and conquer every challenge that stands in her way.

Thank you.

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