HACEY Health Initiative, a non-profit organisation, made the call on Saturday.
The group also urged Tinubu to address issues such as discrimination, violence or abuse, and lack of access to education, among others, that could hinder Nigerian female children from attaining their full potential.
The group equally called on governments at the state and federal levels to ensure access to quality education for girls and remove every blockage that may hinder their enrollment or continuation in school.
The Programme Manager of the organisation, Oluwatomi Olunuga, made this call on Saturday at the three-day 2023 Fellowship Programme of Platform for Amplifying the Voice and Empowerment of Girls’ Project held at Magada in Obafemi/Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The project, which is being supported by Empower, United Kingdom, had in attendance over 100 female participants aged between 12 and 18.
Olunuga also charged the government to implement comprehensive healthcare programmes that focus on girls’ specific health needs, including reproductive health and mental well-being.
She called for the introduction of initiatives and programmes to economically empower girls through skills training, vocational programs, and support for entrepreneurship.
Olunuga described the project as a girl-centred, community-based safe space programme that supports teenage girls with lifesaving health, financial, and life-skill information, services, and tools, providing an opportunity and platform for them to express themselves, learn, and build their capacities to lead.
“The PAVE project provides a safe space where girls can learn about sexual health, mental health, and career development and receive mentoring and referrals to further support.”
“They are provided with access to resources, information, and tools to build their capacity and agency to make informed decisions,” Olunuga said.
The PAVE project is being implemented in Lagos and Ogun states.
“Our overall goal is to support 2,000 in-school and out-of-school girls aged 12–19 years to live to their full potential by supporting them and equipping them with knowledge, skills, and confidence to make informed decisions regarding their health, finances, and personal development.”
“At the end of the project, we want to ensure that young girls have improved mental and physical well-being, are able to make informed financial decisions, have increased access to life skills, vocational training, and mentoring, and can easily access positive girl-centred social networks.”
Olunuga said the government should also strengthen measures to ensure the safety and security of girls, both in public spaces and within their homes, as well as combat any forms of abuse or violence targeted at the girl child.
