NCWS beat Soho24 Foundation 6-0 in girl-child football match

NCWS beat Soho24 Foundation 6-0 in girl-child football match

The National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) on Thursday defeated Soho24 Foundation 6-0 in a novelty football match to mark the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child in Abuja.

The Voice Media Trust (VMT NEWS) reports that the match, held at Sports Park, Abuja, was part of the second edition of a girl-child empowerment programme organised by Soho24 Sports Foundation.

The programme, themed “Empowering the Girl Child Through Sports Development, Education and Performance,” featured discussions on child protection, menstrual health, education, skills acquisition and prevention of child marriage.

The United Nations’ 2026 focus for the International Day of the Girl Child is “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls.”

Speaking at the event, Edna Azura, National President of NCWS, said girls needed education, protection, awareness and life skills to recognise and resist situations that could expose them to abuse.

She said the programme had equipped participants with knowledge of their rights, including the right to control their bodies, speak out and seek help when confronted with abuse or other threats.

Azura commended Soho24 Foundation and its partners for providing practical knowledge to more than 500 schoolgirls through the programme.

She said education remained critical to helping girls make informed decisions, achieve independence and contribute meaningfully to society.

Azura urged the girls to report abuse, violence and other challenges to trusted adults and relevant organisations, including NCWS.

She said sports could help girls develop discipline, teamwork, resilience, leadership and confidence, while education could enable them to discover and develop their talents.

The founder of Soho24 Sports Foundation, Amb. Christy Opara, a Nigerian Olympic medallist and performance coach, urged the girls to dream big and pursue their aspirations.

Opara said early marriage could deprive girls of education and truncate their dreams, urging parents, teachers and community leaders to create opportunities for girls to remain in school.

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“Protecting our girls means giving them time, safety and school fees, not wedding dates. When you keep a girl in school, you strengthen the entire community,” she said.

She advised the girls to recognise their worth, develop their skills and resist pressure to assume adult responsibilities before they were ready.

Speaking with NAN, Opara said the programme was successful in spite of the ongoing school strike, which affected the expected turnout.

She said the foundation had anticipated about 400 additional pupils but was encouraged by the number of girls who attended.

Opara added that the 2027 edition would feature new innovations and reach more girls.

Dorkong Rimdan of the Female Power Menstrual Awareness Initiative (FemPower) said the organisation was committed to educating girls about their bodies, menstrual health and hygiene.

Rimdan, also a broadcaster, said many girls reached adolescence without adequate information about bodily changes, adding that FemPower used creative approaches, including dance, to deliver menstrual health education.

Dr Hegan Ihuaku, founder of Emerald Kwesi Kofi Academy, urged girls to report molestation, bullying and other forms of abuse through appropriate channels.

Rosemary Effiong, National Coordinator of the Society for Empowerment and Self-Reliance (SESER), said education and skills acquisition were essential to protecting girls from child marriage and preparing them for independent lives.

Effiong said girls had fundamental rights to education, protection, healthcare, participation and dignity, adding that early marriage could undermine their education, safety, health and future opportunities.

Enemali Ojonogecha, a counsellor at Junior Secondary School, Kado-Kuchi, Abuja, said lessons from previous editions had continued to influence activities in the school’s girls’ club.

She said the lessons focused on self-worth, speaking out and pursuing dreams despite challenges.

NAN reports that the event also featured sporting and creative activities involving schoolgirls from Abuja.

The International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually on Oct. 11 to promote girls’ rights and highlight challenges affecting them.