International Day of the Girl Child 2025
Today, as the world marks the International Day of the Girl Child 2025, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and leadership of girls everywhere.
This year’s theme — “The Girl I Am, the Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontlines of Crisis” — reminds us that girls are not passive recipients of change, but powerful agents of transformation.
In Nigeria, as we reflect on this theme, we must ask ourselves: how well are we empowering our girls in the face of adversity — whether poverty, inequality, conflict, or social barriers? The answer to that question will ultimately define the future of our profession, our justice system, and our nation.
Let us use our platforms to amplify their stories. Every girl who dreams of being a lawyer, a judge, or a reformer deserves to see someone who looks like her achieving those dreams.
We must also continue to build inclusive spaces within the Bar. The Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum plays a vital role in this regard, and it is imperative that we support and expand its work to ensure that women lawyers across Nigeria have access to networks, opportunities, and safe spaces to learn, lead, and thrive.
I am personally committed to ensuring that the voices of girls and young women are not an afterthought but a central part of our shared vision for justice, equality, and professional excellence. When we uplift our girls, we uplift the entire Bar — and we strengthen the very foundation of our nation.
Happy International Day of the Girl Child 2025.
Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN
