Businesswoman Folorunso Alakija on Monday marked the International Day of the Girl Child, calling for protection of the rights of girls.
Mrs Alakija, a preacher and oil and gas mogul, said in an Instagram post that girls must be allowed to make decisions that concern them directly.
“I join stakeholders across the world to call for collective action to build a world that enables every girl to make their own decisions over their bodies, lives, futures and all the above,” she wrote.
“This #DayofTheGirl, here is a reminder for protection of every girl’s health and rights, offline and online.”
The Nigeria Police Force also marked the worldwide occasion. The Force in a post on social media described the girl child as the “strength of our home and future of our nation.”
It also called on the general public to respect, protect and defend the girl child.
The International Day of the Girl Child is used to raise awareness on issues facing girls internationally, such as education, nutrition, forced child marriage, legal rights, and medical rights.
