FAWEN, CAI Set to Tackle Child Marriage At Owerri Girl-Child Event
The Forum for African Women Educationalists, Nigeria (FAWEN), Imo State Chapter, in collaboration with the Christy Agim Initiative (CAI), will on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child at Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, with a focus on ending child marriage and investing in girls’ rights.
The event, themed “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights,” is scheduled to hold at the institution’s SGS 500-Capacity Auditorium, with girls aged 12 to 16, educators, policymakers, advocates and other stakeholders expected to participate.
The event is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at the SGS 500-Capacity Auditorium, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri.
The commemoration is being coordinated by FAWEN’s Imo State Chapter in partnership with CAI, with the programme designed to promote the protection, education, rights and empowerment of the girl child.
In the invitation letter signed by the Imo State coordinator of FAWEN, Juliana C. Njoku, the organisers described the event as an opportunity to bring together stakeholders committed to improving the welfare and future of girls.
“The celebration will bring together girls aged 12–16 years, educators, policymakers, advocates, and other stakeholders to promote the protection, education, rights, and empowerment of the girl child,” the letter stated.
The letter also invited Jane Nnanna, the Lead Coach of Cuddle with Jayne, to deliver the keynote address, citing her work in mentoring and empowering young people as relevant to the objectives of the gathering.
According to the invitation, the keynote address is expected to encourage girls to recognise their worth, build healthy relationships, develop positive values, embrace their potential and pursue their aspirations with confidence.
The programme will also draw attention to the need to protect girls from child marriage and other harmful practices while expanding their access to education, guidance and opportunities for personal development.
The rector of Federal Polytechnic Nekede is listed as chief host, with the institution’s principal officers, directors, heads of departments and other invited guests expected to form part of the gathering.
The International Day of the Girl Child is observed globally every October 11, while the United Nations’ 2026 campaign theme is “End child marriage and invest in girls’ rights.”
The Owerri commemoration, coming 10 days after the international observance, is expected to reinforce calls for sustained action to protect girls’ rights and address practices that threaten their education, safety and future opportunities.
Child marriage remains a significant child-rights concern because it can disrupt schooling, restrict personal choices and expose girls to health, social and economic risks.
Efforts to address the practice include keeping girls in school, strengthening child-protection systems, improving access to healthcare, supporting families facing economic pressures and ensuring that girls can participate in decisions affecting their lives.
The event’s theme also highlights the importance of investing in girls beyond preventing early marriage, particularly through education, mentorship, safe environments and opportunities that enable them to develop their abilities and pursue their aspirations.
The invitation letter expresses the organisers’ expectation that the keynote address and contributions from other participants will strengthen collective commitment to a safer and more dignified future for girls.
The full programme of activities and any resolutions or commitments arising from the commemoration have not been specified in the materials provided ahead of the event.
The programme is scheduled for Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at the SGS 500-Capacity Auditorium, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, with the official commencement time awaiting clarification from the organisers.
