For millions of girls, the future they imagine for themselves is shaped by more than their talent or ambition. Poverty, child marriage, interrupted education and limited access to opportunities can determine whether they complete school, develop their skills or pursue a career.
The United Nations’ theme for 2026, “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights,” calls for urgent action to create an environment where girls can stay in school, make informed decisions, develop their abilities and determine the direction of their lives.
According to the United Nations, more than 12 million girls are married before the age of 18 every year. In Nigeria, 33.4% of young women aged 20–24 were married before age 18, according to UNICEF, with prevalence approaching 50% in the North-East and North-West. An estimated 7.6 million Nigerian girls also remain out of school.
Behind these figures are girls whose choices and opportunities may be limited before they have the chance to explore their potential. Protecting girls’ rights must therefore go hand in hand with investing in their education, skills and ability to shape their own futures.
The conversation around the International Day of the Girl Child must also address the barriers they face and the opportunities they need to turn their ambitions into reality.
Beyond Education: Equipping Girls for the Future
Education gives girls a foundation for understanding their rights, exploring career paths and making informed decisions. But remaining in school is only one part of the picture. Girls also need opportunities to apply what they learn, develop practical skills and prepare for the world of work.
These opportunities matter because a girl’s future is shaped not only by the education she receives, but also by the choices available to her. When girls have access to education and opportunities to develop their abilities, they are better positioned to explore different paths, pursue their ambitions and participate in decisions about their lives.
This is particularly important in addressing child marriage, which can interrupt education and limit girls’ future opportunities. UNICEF’s December 2025 report highlights the relationship between education and the timing of marriage in Nigeria. The median age at first marriage was 16.6 years among girls with no education, compared with 21.7 years among those who completed secondary school.
This association does not mean education alone can prevent child marriage. It reinforces the importance of keeping girls in school as part of a broader response that protects their rights, addresses the barriers they face and expands their opportunities.
Keeping girls in school is essential, but learning and development extend beyond the classroom. Girls also need supportive environments where they can ask questions, express themselves, understand their rights and build the confidence to make informed decisions.
Through its PAVE (Platform for Amplifying the Voice and Empowerment of Girls) programme, HACEY creates opportunities for girls aged 10–17 to participate in discussions, develop their confidence and engage with issues affecting their growth and development.
PAVE encourages girls to think critically, understand their rights and responsibilities, and recognise their ability to influence decisions about their lives through interactive sessions and practical learning activities. These experiences complement formal education by helping girls develop the knowledge and confidence to navigate challenges and explore their options for the future.
Knowing their rights and believing in their abilities are important first steps. Girls also need practical opportunities to turn that confidence into action.
Digital literacy can help them access information and explore emerging fields. Vocational training can provide practical skills, while mentorship can introduce them to different career paths. Financial education can help them understand how to manage resources and plan for their goals.
Access to these opportunities is particularly important for girls who face economic and social barriers. When girls can develop relevant skills and access further education, training and employment opportunities, they have more options to consider as they make decisions about their futures.
Investing in girls must therefore involve more than protecting their rights. It must also mean expanding the opportunities available to them, so they can put their knowledge and skills to use and pursue the futures they want.
A Future Worth Investing In: Girls, AI and Opportunity
Preparing girls for the future also means considering how technology is changing education, careers and the economy. Artificial intelligence (AI) is creating new possibilities, but girls need opportunities to understand these developments and participate in shaping how the technology is used.
Access to digital skills and emerging technologies can help girls explore new fields, develop ideas and prepare for changes in the world of work. Without these opportunities, existing inequalities may carry into the digital future, limiting whose perspectives are represented and whose needs are considered.
HACEY’s annual Girl Child Summit, held in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child, brings girls together with key stakeholders to address issues affecting their development and explore opportunities for their future.
This year’s theme, “Girls, AI and the Future,” builds on the 2025 theme, “Shaping Tomorrow: Girls’ Leadership and Digital Power.” While last year highlighted girls’ leadership in an increasingly digital world, this year’s focus explores how artificial intelligence could influence their education, careers and economic opportunities.
Through mentoring, interactive session and discussions, the summit encourages girls to explore how AI can be used to solve problems in their communities. It also creates space for conversations about girls’ place in technological progress and the importance of including their perspectives in decisions that will affect their futures.
The Girl Child Summit has reached more than 10,000 girls across over 500 schools, while more than 80 girls have participated as members of its Girl Advisory Board. These efforts reflect the importance of creating opportunities for girls to contribute to conversations and decisions that affect their lives.
As AI continues to influence the world of work, girls need access to digital knowledge, mentorship and opportunities to explore emerging fields. They should not be limited to adapting to changes shaped by others. They should also have opportunities to contribute ideas, identify problems and help shape the technology that will influence their generation.
Ultimately, investing in girls means protecting their rights today while ensuring they have the knowledge, skills and opportunities to shape their futures. From access to education and supportive learning environments to vocational training, financial literacy and digital skills, each investment can help expand the choices available to them.
The future of AI should not be built without girls. Their ideas and perspectives must help shape the world they will inherit.
References
United Nations. (2026). International Day of the Girl Child: End child marriage and invest in girls’ rights.
https://www.un.org/en/events/girlchild/
UNICEF Nigeria. (2025, December 11). UNICEF and partners find high economic returns from investing in adolescent girls in Northern Nigeria.
https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/press-releases/unicef-and-partners-find-high-economic-returns-investing-adolescent-girls-northern
