NCWS Beat Soho24 6-0 in Football Match Marking Girl Child Day

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

 

The match, played at Sports Park, Abuja, was part of the second edition of a girl-child empowerment programme organised by Soho24 Sports Foundation.

 

Held under the theme "Empowering the Girl Child Through Sports Development, Education and Performance," the programme also featured discussions on child protection, menstrual health, education, skills acquisition and the prevention of child marriage.

 

It came ahead of the International Day of the Girl Child, observed every Oct. 11 to promote girls' rights and draw attention to the challenges they face. The United Nations' focus for the 2026 observance is "End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls."

 

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 taught participants about their rights, including the right to control their bodies, to speak out and to seek help when faced with abuse or other threats.

 

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

 

According to her, education remains critical to helping girls make informed decisions, become independent and contribute meaningfully to society. She said sports could help them build discipline, teamwork, resilience, leadership and confidence, while education could help them discover and develop their talents.

 

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

 

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 warned that early marriage could deprive girls of education and cut their dreams short, and called on parents, teachers and community leaders to create opportunities for girls to stay in school.

 

"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 take on adult responsibilities before they were ready.

 

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the event, Opara said the programme had succeeded despite the ongoing school strike, which affected turnout.

 

She said the foundation had expected about 400 more pupils, but was encouraged by the number of girls who attended. The 2027 edition, she added, 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, who is also a broadcaster, said many girls reached adolescence without adequate information about the changes in their bodies, and 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 the 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, and 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 of the programme continued to shape the activities of the school's girls' club.

 

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

 

The event also featured sporting and creative activities for schoolgirls from across Abuja.