By Murtala Muhammad
Stakeholders in Bauchi State have advocated the need to strengthen investment in education and health sectors, provision of adequate protection from abuse and meeting women and adolescent girls’ demands as well as ensuring justice for them.
They made the call at an event to mark 2026 International Women’s Day, organised by the state government in partnership with Global Affairs Canada GAC through the United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF, Bauchi Field Office, held in Bauchi.
The Executive Chairman of the State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed said for women and adolescent girls to thrive, they should be protected from any form of violence that can cause them hindrance in life.
Dr Mohammed noted that any society that undermines the ability of a woman to contribute her quota in any aspect oh human endeavour, that society’s chances for growth and meaningful development is minimal.
In her remark, Chief of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr Nuzhat Rafique said for the women and adolescent girls to thrive, they should be given equal opportunity to their basic rights, including access health care and educational services.
She emphasised the need for Bauchi state and Nigeria to provided women and girls with equal empowerment opportunities in economic, educational and healthcare access, as they were fundamental towards achieving equality, dignity, and sustainable development.
Dr Rafique expressed discomfort over the increasing cases of abused meted on women and girls in the state, calling for urgent attention to arresting the situation.
The Bauchi State’s Director General, Sustainable Development Goals, Mrs Lydia Shehu argued that to achieve SDGs 5 and 10 by 2030, women and girls must be empowered with unhindered access to all their basic rights, calling for collective efforts in that direction.
Adolescent girls who attended the event, called for provision of adequate safe spaces in healthcare and educational facilities to enable them take decision on their lives without hesitation.
The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is “Rights, Justice and Action: For All Women and Girls”.
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