Chargé d' Affaires, US Embassy Nigeria, David Young Implores Nigerians To Empower The Girl-Child

David J. Young, Chargé d' Affaires, US Embassy, Nigeria gave a very insightful speech as he hosted dignitaries at Abuja to mark the International Day Of The Girl.

Please read below excerpts from the speech:

David J. Young

We need to help girls across this country, from all walks of life, not only in crisis.  They need the opportunity to grow up safe and healthy, free from violence and abuse.  They need the chance to be educated, to make decisions for themselves about their destinies, what they want to do in life, who they want to love, how they will live, and what they will believe.

When we think of the future of Nigeria, this is especially important.  Think for a moment.  Nigeria’s population is growing rapidly.  Currently, there are roughly 180 million people in the country.  By 2050 the number of people is expected to grow to roughly double, to some 350 million people.  Half of these are female.  What are we doing to make a better future for the girls who we want to grow up to be the women of Nigeria tomorrow?

Michelle Obama, at the 2014 Mandela Washington Fellowship’s Presidential summit said, “if you send out half your team, you will not do as well.”  Women make up roughly half of the population of Nigeria, and in a time of economic turmoil, Nigeria cannot afford to have half the team sitting on the bench.  With that in mind the Embassy sponsors more than one hundred women and girls annually to travel to the United States to hone their skills in business, advocacy, education, and many other fields through our various educational and cultural exchange programs.

Here at the U.S. Embassy, we support the campaign to end violence against women and girls. We work with Nigerians to assure the rights of every Nigerian woman and girl to live free - Free from physical and emotional abuse at school, at home, and in the workplace. We work to see she is respected and protected.

USAID has educational programs in the northern part of  Nigeria focused on ensuring girls not only enter and stay in school but receive a quality education.  In addition, USAID has developed safe spaces for women and girls affected by the ongoing conflict in the Northeast. USAID health programs encourage girls to delay pregnancy until an appropriate age and focus on family planning and disease prevention to improve health outcomes for girls and young women throughout Nigeria.