The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Rivers State Women Commission, has called on parents, schools and government authorities to strengthen the protection of girls’ rights, end child marriage and expand access to education and empowerment opportunities.
The commission made the call during its 2026 International Day of the Girl Child celebration, organised in collaboration with Miradon Counselling and Trauma Healing Centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The event brought together girls from various schools and was held under the theme, “She Deserves to Know, She Deserves to Speak, She Deserves to Dream, She Is More Than Her Challenges.”
Speaking at the event, Chairperson of the TUC Women Commission, Rivers State, Comrade Ibiene Finebone, said the celebration should translate into concrete actions to protect girls’ rights and secure their future.
Finebone noted that child marriage disrupts education, endangers health and limits the future prospects of girls, stressing that investing in their rights was essential to societal progress.
She said the programme theme reinforced every girl’s right to education, freedom of expression and the opportunity to pursue her dreams.
According to her, the slogan, “My Body. My Voice. My Mind. My Future,” underscores the importance of protecting girls’ safety, dignity, knowledge and ability to make informed decisions about their lives.
She urged parents, educators and community leaders to move beyond celebrating the girl child to taking practical steps to safeguard their wellbeing and provide opportunities for their development.
Addressing the participants, TUC Rivers State Chairman, Comrade Samuel Ogan, urged girls not to allow anyone to silence their voices or limit their ambitions.
Ogan said girls possessed the talent, intelligence and potential to become leaders, trade unionists, scientists, entrepreneurs and agents of positive change.
He described child marriage as a violation of girls’ rights, noting that it deprives them of their childhood, interrupts their education, threatens their health and undermines their aspirations.
“Education is not a privilege; it is your fundamental right,” he said, urging the girls to remain focused on their studies and pursue their dreams.
The TUC chairman also pledged the congress’s commitment to supporting government policies and community initiatives aimed at protecting girls from abuse, keeping them in school and upholding their rights.
He added that investing in girls’ education, health and protection would contribute to a stronger and more prosperous Rivers State and Nigeria.
In her remarks, Founder of Miradon Counselling and Trauma Healing Centre, Dr Igwe Mirabel, commended the TUC Women Commission for providing a platform to educate and empower girls.
Mirabel said the programme highlighted the importance of protecting girls’ rights while promoting their psychological wellbeing, confidence and resilience.
She explained that the initiative was designed to help girls develop self-awareness, emotional intelligence, critical-thinking skills and healthy personal boundaries.
According to her, these skills would enable them to recognise harmful influences, make informed decisions and seek assistance when necessary.
Mirabel also emphasised the importance of families, educators, professionals and communities working together to protect girls’ rights and nurture their potential.
She said the programme’s focus on “The Gatekeeper Within” encouraged girls to take responsibility for their thoughts, feelings, memories and values, while the session on “Chances, Choices and Consequences” highlighted the importance of making responsible decisions.
She expressed hope that sustained collaboration among stakeholders would help create an environment where every girl could learn, speak confidently, pursue her dreams and thrive.
