Save the Children International (SCI), with support from the Philanthropic Integrated Health and Nutrition Project (Phil_IHN), has distributed hygiene kits to vulnerable adolescent girls in Hombo Community, Song Local Government, Adamawa State.

The distribution is in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child 2026 themed “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Right”.

Speaking at the event on Thursday, the SCI team lead in Adamawa, Abdulrasheed Mohammed, urged parents to stop giving out a girl-child for marriage until they attain 18 years.

According to him, allowing them to complete secondary school will help reduce the rate of early marriage.

He said the project was for 11 years, implemented in different phases that focused on improving access to quality education and child protection services for vulnerable children and children with disabilities.

Mr Mohammed said the first phase of the project from 2020 to 2022 in Adamawa, Borno and Katsina states reached 27,000 vulnerable children on integrated interventions.

He explained that the project was funded by the Cuppy Foundation through the Otedola Family and implemented by SCI.

According to him, the current phase II project from 2023 to 2026 is being implemented in Adamawa, Katsina and Lagos states.

The project is targeting 3,000 children and adolescents with education and learning opportunities, 1,050 children and caregivers with child protection services, and 50 adolescents with mental health and psychosocial support.

According to him, through these interventions, the project is helping children learn in safe and inclusive environments, strengthening protection systems, and creating better opportunities for vulnerable girls and boys to thrive.

The District Head of Dumne, Samson Auteriya, represented by his Secretary, Ali Pepa, appreciated SCI for the positive impact of their projects in the community.

According to him, girls’ children in the community were now fully educated on issues that affect their rights and sexual violence, among others.

He further called on the parents and the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the knowledge and kits given to them.

In their separate remarks,  Kabiru Sambo and Emmanuel Edward, representing the Muslim Council and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), respectively, expressed appreciation to the partners.

They urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the kits and apply the knowledge into practice towards the success of the girl-child in the future.

(NAN)