The India embassy in Nigeria has donated 2,000 gift packs to students of Government Girls Secondary School, Dutse, reaffirming its commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment.

The High Commission distributed the items on Thursday in Abuja as part of activities to commemorate the United Nations International Day of the Girl Child.

On December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 declaring October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child. The day is in recognition of girls’ rights and the unique challenges they face globally.

Abhishek Singh, India’s high commissioner to Nigeria, said the gesture demonstrated India’s continued support for promoting gender equality, women’s empowerment, and women-led development both in India and globally.

He noted that the outreach formed part of the High Commission’s broader efforts to strengthen people-to-people ties between India and Nigeria, particularly in advancing education and empowerment for girls.

“In line with the United Nations theme for the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child, this year’s celebration focused on investing in girls’ rights and opportunities for a better and more equitable future,” he said.

Mr Singh also emphasised the vital role of girls in building inclusive societies and called for greater investment in their health, education, and overall well-being.

He also highlighted the enduring friendship between India and Nigeria, citing shared colonial histories, long-standing cooperation, and common development goals.

Mr Singh referenced India’s flagship initiative, ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ (Save the Girl Child, Educate the Girl Child), which promoted girls’ education and empowerment, noting that India’s women’s workforce participation rose from 22 per cent in 2017 and 2018 to 40.3 per cent in 2023 and 2024.

He added that women currently contributed about 18 per cent to India’s GDP and that the country had the world’s largest number of female commercial pilots. According to him, this is a clear indicator of women’s rising participation in national development.

The envoy reaffirmed India’s readiness to share its experiences with Nigeria and commended the Nigerian government’s efforts under the Renewed Hope Agenda to promote women’s empowerment, inclusive growth, and increased political participation.

He further underscored the need to harness Nigeria’s youthful population for sustainable development, noting that over 70 per cent of Nigerians were under 30 years old, making it one of the youngest populations globally.

Mr Singh also commended Indian companies operating in Nigeria for their strong corporate social responsibility contributions. He revealed that over 200 Indian companies have invested more than $27 billion in Nigeria. According to him, India remains Nigeria’s second-largest employer after the federal government.

(NAN)