By Benson Ezugwu
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has launched the “Yes! Girl” Podcast, a youth-driven digital platform created by adolescent girls, for adolescent girls in Nigeria.
The event, held at the Nile Cinema, Enugu, on Saturday, was part of UNICEF’s programmes to commemorate the 2026 International Women’s Day marked on March 8 every year.
Ngozi Songu, Adolescent Development Specialist, UNICEF Enugu Area Office, said podcast provided a safe and empowering space for girls aged 9–19 years to speak openly about issues affecting their lives.
According to her, such issues include education, mental health, menstrual health, HPV prevention, gender equality, leadership, and climate action.
“The event commemorates International Women’s Day 2026, under the theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls.
“This event is significant because it shifts the narrative from speaking about girls to listening to girls,” she said.
She said that in Nigeria, adolescent girls faced barriers ranging from school dropout, harmful gender norms, early marriage, limited access to health information, and lack of safe spaces for expression.
“The Yes! Girl Podcast places girls at the centre of the conversation not as beneficiaries, but as leaders, storytellers, and advocates for change.
“It also demonstrates how digital storytelling can expand access to safe dialogue spaces, especially for girls in communities where such conversations are often limited,” she said.
Songu said the event signalled a commitment to ensuring that girls’ voices shape policies, programmes, and investments that affected their futures.
According to her, in response to the theme of this year’s IWD, “Rights. Justice. Action, the organisation was focusing on three key priorities for girls in Nigeria:
“Amplifying Girls’ Voices through platforms like the Yes! Girl Podcast and U-Report, UNICEF ensures girls can speak directly about the challenges they face and the solutions they propose.
“Expanding Access to Information and Services by supporting programmes that improve girls’ access to education, menstrual health, HPV prevention, mental health support, and safe learning environments.
“Strengthening Girls’ Leadership and Participation through working with adolescents and youth networks to ensure girls are active participants in decision-making spaces, from community dialogues to national advocacy platforms,” Songu said.
She said although the Federal Government had made important progress in advancing the rights of women and girls, there were three critical areas where stronger action would accelerate impact:
“Investing more in girls’ education — reducing the number of out-of-school girls must remain a national priority, especially in regions where girls face multiple barriers to schooling.
“Expand adolescent-friendly services — Access to accurate health information, safe spaces, and youth-friendly services is essential for girls to make informed decisions about their lives.
“Institutionalise girls’ participation in policy discussions — Young people, especially adolescent girls should be consistently included in policy consultations and decision-making platforms that affect their futures,” she said.
According to her, when girls are educated, healthy, and empowered, the entire communities and economies benefit.
“Girls are not just beneficiaries of development — they are powerful leaders, innovators, and advocates for change.
“Platforms like the Yes! Girl Podcast ensure their voices are heard, their experiences valued, and their solutions amplified.
“When we create spaces for girls to speak, we unlock solutions that transform communities.
“The Yes! Girl Podcast is about ensuring that every girl’s voice counts — and that her ideas help shape a more equal and just future for Nigeria,” UNICEF said.
Mrs Esther Mbah, representative of Enugu State Ministry of Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, said the state government was fully in support of any programme that aimed to uplift the girl child.
Also speaking, the Enugu State Chairperson of FIDA, Annie Enweani, said women in Nigeria reserved the right to occupy leadership positions like their male counterparts.
She said the event was timely and apt and a very good way of celebrating the 2026 International Women’s Day.
Some female students from various secondary schools participated in the event. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Maureen Atuonwu
