By Taibat Ummi Yakubu

In the olden days, the birth of a girl child was sometimes met with disappointment, especially in societies where a male child was considered more valuable. While boys were encouraged to dream, lead and inherit, girls were often raised within boundaries designed by tradition. Their futures were frequently decided for them: how they should behave, what they should aspire to, whom they should marry and what they must never dare to become.

For many girls, life came with an unwritten script. Be obedient. Be quiet. Learn to cook. Prepare for marriage. Become a mother. And above all, never dare to dream beyond what society considers acceptable for a woman.

But who wrote these rules? And who decided that a girl's dreams should be smaller simply because she was born female?

African literature has, for generations, challenged these beliefs and given the girl child a voice. In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, we encounter the weight of traditional expectations and the different values attached to masculinity and femininity. In Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Purple Hibiscus, we see the struggles surrounding identity, freedom and the courage to find one's voice in a restrictive environment.

From Northern Nigeria, Zaynab Alkali, through works such as The Stillborn, The Virtuous Woman and The Descendants, explores women's experiences, their choices, their struggles and the consequences of decisions made in a society that often places enormous expectations on them. Her stories remind us that a woman's life is not simply a journey towards marriage but a complex experience shaped by her ambitions, circumstances and personal decisions.

Buchi Emecheta, in The Joys of Motherhood, also examines the burdens placed on women in a society that measures their worth through marriage, motherhood and the ability to give birth to children, particularly sons. Her work exposes the pain of a system in which a woman's identity can become entangled with her reproductive role, leaving little room for her individual dreams and aspirations.

Through their stories, these writers have challenged the silence surrounding women's experiences. They have questioned traditions that restrict girls, exposed the consequences of gender discrimination and reminded us that women deserve to be heard, valued and recognised as individuals with their own identities and ambitions.

Beyond literature, countless individuals and organisations continue to advocate for girls' education, protection, equal opportunities and freedom from harmful practices. Their work is important because changing the lives of girls requires more than encouraging words; it requires families, communities and institutions to create an environment where every girl has the opportunity to thrive.

But, dear girl child, your story does not have to end where society's expectations begin.

You are not born merely to become somebody's wife or somebody's mother. You are born with the potential to learn, create, discover, lead, innovate and make meaningful contributions to the world. Marriage and motherhood may be beautiful parts of a woman's journey if she chooses them, but they should never be the only achievements society allows her to pursue.

You can be a writer whose words change minds, a doctor who saves lives, an engineer who builds the future, a scientist who discovers solutions, an entrepreneur who creates opportunities or a teacher who inspires generations.

And if your dream is to become a politician, a governor, a president or a world leader, dare to dream it!

Do not let anyone convince you that leadership is reserved for men or that the highest positions in society are beyond your reach. History has shown us that women can rise to positions of enormous responsibility and influence, shaping policies, transforming institutions and contributing to decisions that affect millions of lives.

Look at Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Nigerian economist who became the first woman and the first African to serve as Director-General of the World Trade Organization. Her journey demonstrates how knowledge, determination and years of experience can take an African woman to the centre of global economic leadership.

Look at Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who made history as Africa's first democratically elected female president when she became Liberia's president in 2006. Her rise to the highest political office in her country challenged long-standing assumptions about women's place in political leadership.

Look at Samia Suluhu Hassan, who became Tanzania's first female president in 2021, and Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who became Namibia's first female president in 2025. Their achievements show that women can occupy the highest offices in their countries and participate directly in shaping their nations' futures.

Consider also women such as Amina J. Mohammed, the Nigerian-born diplomat serving as Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, whose work places her among the women contributing to discussions and decisions on global development.

These women are more than names in history books. They are reminders of what becomes possible when women acquire knowledge, develop their abilities, seize opportunities and dare to enter spaces where their voices have historically been underrepresented.

Dear girl child, let these women be your inspiration, your motivation and your role models.

Study their journeys. Learn from their successes, understand the challenges they faced and recognise the importance of preparation, discipline, courage and persistence. Do not simply admire their achievements; allow their stories to challenge you to discover what you, too, can accomplish.

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Perhaps one day, the little girl reading this message will become Nigeria's first female president. Perhaps she will represent her country at the United Nations, lead a major international organisation, become a governor, serve as a senator, develop life-changing technology or establish an institution that transforms the lives of millions.

Perhaps the next woman to make history will come from a small village in Katsina, a classroom in Kano, a community in Kaduna or a family that has never imagined that its daughter could one day become a world leader.

Why not you?

Why should your dreams be limited by the place you were born, the financial circumstances of your family or the expectations of people who have never seen your full potential?

Your background may shape your beginning, but it does not have to determine your destination.

Of course, dreaming is only the beginning. If you want to lead, prepare yourself. Read widely. Take your education seriously. Ask questions. Develop your confidence. Learn to communicate your ideas. Build meaningful relationships and remain committed to your goals even when the journey becomes difficult. Seek out women who can mentor and encourage you, and remember that you, too, can become a source of inspiration to another girl.

And to parents, guardians, teachers and community leaders, remember that the girl child needs more than praise on a special day. She needs an education, encouragement, protection, opportunities and the freedom to explore her abilities. Give her room to ask questions, express her opinions, make responsible choices and discover her talents. Do not teach her to believe that her dreams are less important than those of her brothers.

As we celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child, let us move beyond simply telling girls that they matter. Let us build families, schools, communities and institutions where they can see that truth reflected in their everyday lives.

Dear girl child, dream wildly. Love yourself unapologetically. Know your worth. Speak when you have something to say, stand tall when the world tries to shrink you, and never be ashamed to cry when your heart feels heavy. Be kind, but do not mistake kindness for weakness. Be respectful, but do not surrender your voice. Be courageous enough to question the limitations that do not allow you to become the best version of yourself.

You do not have to prove your worth by competing with a boy or becoming someone else's definition of a successful woman. Your worth is not determined by your gender, your marital status, your ability to give birth to a son or the approval of society.

You matter because you are human. Your voice matters. Your education matters. Your choices matter. Your dreams matter.

You are more than a daughter, more than a future wife and more than a future mother. You are a person with a mind, a purpose, a voice and possibilities that deserve the chance to unfold.

So, to every girl reading this today, remember: you do not need permission to dream, and you should never allow anyone to convince you that your gender is the boundary of your ambition.

Dream it. Learn it. Work for it. Lead.

Happy International Day of the Girl Child! 

Celebrate yourself today, tomorrow and every day. Keep learning, keep growing, keep dreaming and keep breaking the barriers that tell you what you cannot become.

The world needs your voice. Your dreams deserve a chance. And you deserve to be celebrated, not just for what you may become for others, but for the extraordinary person you already are.

The next woman who changes the world could be you. Dare to believe it. Dare to prepare for it. Dare to become her. 

#InternationalDayOfTheGirlChild #GirlChildEmpowerment #HerVoiceMatters #WomenInLeadership #LetGirlsDream #GirlsCanLead