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By Jacinta Nwachukwu Plan International Nigeria says it is partnering with Queen Atuwatse III of Warri Kingdom to advance children’s rights and promote gender equality through empowerment of girls in the Niger Delta zone. Country Director, Plan International Nigeria, Dr Charles Usie, stated this in a statement by Ms Munachi Okoro, Brand and Communications Manager of the organisation and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja. Usie said that the organisation had chosen the queen as First Ambassador for Girls in Nigeria. He explained that through the partnership, the queen, serving as “Plan International’s Ambassador for Girls in Nigeria”, would leverage her influence and platform to advocate for girls’ rights. “She will also support key campaigns and raise public awareness on critical issues affecting children and young women across Nigeria. “The collaboration underscores a shared commitment to breaking the cycle of poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination that many children, especially girls, face today. “As part of this collaboration, Plan International Nigeria and the Royal Iwere Foundation will launch the Royal Iwere Girls Hub Initiative, focusing initially on the Niger Delta,” Usie added. According to him, the hubs will serve as safe spaces where girls can come together, free from fear and discrimination, to access education, develop leadership skills and build confidence. He said that within these supportive environments, girls would have the opportunity to share experiences, receive mentoring and participate in activities that would nurture their personal growth and ambition. The country director also said over time, the programme would expand to other regions to maximise its impacts. “We believe in the power and potential of every Nigerian girl. “Partnering with Her Majesty as ambassador for girls will further strengthen our commitment to advancing equality and creating meaningful opportunities for girls to thrive. “Our mission centres on empowering girls to become leaders of change. By 2028, our goal is to reach 20 million Nigerian girls,” he added. Expressing her enthusiasm for the partnership Queen Atuwatse III said it was a ‘profound honour’ to stand alongside Plan International Nigeria in advancing the cause of the nation’s young girls. “I believe in a story where every girl has the power to choose her own path; a story where she decides if, when and whom to marry; where education is not a privilege, but a right. “Through this partnership, we will create safe spaces for our girls to learn, to grow, and to thrive. Together, we will amplify their voices and open new doors of opportunity, ensuring that no girl is ever left behind,” she said. NAN reports that Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. In over 85 years, it has rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children in more than 80 countries. The organisation also believes in the power and potential of every child, often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination, with girls who mostly affected. (NAN)
