Save the Children International (SCI), with support from the Philanthropic Integrated Health and Nutrition Project (Phil_IHN), has distributed hygiene kits to vulnerable adolescent girls in Hombo community, Song Local Government Area of Adamawa State, as part of efforts to promote girls’ rights, health and protection.
The distribution was held on Thursday to commemorate the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, themed “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Right,” according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, SCI Team Lead in Adamawa, Abdulrasheed Mohammed, urged parents to discourage early marriage and allow girls to attain the age of 18 before marriage.
He said enabling girls to complete secondary education could help reduce early marriage and improve their future opportunities.
Mohammed explained that the project had been implemented in phases over 11 years, focusing on improving access to quality education and child protection services for vulnerable children, including children with disabilities.
He said the first phase, implemented from 2020 to 2022 in Adamawa, Borno and Katsina states, reached 27,000 vulnerable children through integrated interventions.
The current second phase, running from 2023 to 2026, covers Adamawa, Katsina and Lagos states. It targets 3,000 children and adolescents with education and learning opportunities, 1,050 children and caregivers with child protection services, and 50 adolescents with mental health and psychosocial support.
According to Mohammed, the interventions are intended to promote safe and inclusive learning environments, strengthen child protection systems and expand opportunities for vulnerable girls and boys.
The District Head of Dumne, Samson Auteriya, represented by his secretary, Ali Pepa, commended Save the Children International for its work in the community.
Pepa said the initiatives had improved girls’ awareness of their rights and issues relating to sexual violence. He urged parents and beneficiaries to make effective use of the hygiene kits and knowledge provided through the programme.
Representatives of the Muslim Council and the Christian Association of Nigeria, Kabiru Sambo and Emmanuel Edward, respectively, also expressed appreciation to the project partners and encouraged beneficiaries to apply the knowledge gained.
The project is funded by the Cuppy Foundation through the Otedola family and implemented by Save the Children International.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to improve educational access, child protection and psychosocial support for vulnerable children and adolescents, particularly girls facing barriers to education and protection.
Leave a comment