The BEMORE Empowered Girls Foundation has called on governments at all levels, parents, traditional rulers and development partners to intensify efforts to end child marriage and invest more in girls’ education, digital skills and economic empowerment.
The founder, Dr. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, made the call in a statement marking the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, observed on October 11, with the theme, “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights.”
Dr. Anyanwu-Akeredolu described child marriage as a major threat to girls’ development, noting that the practice deprives them of their childhood, disrupts their education, endangers their health and limits their economic opportunities.
She stressed that addressing the challenge required more than condemnation, urging stakeholders to keep girls in school, strengthen child protection systems, support vulnerable families and enforce laws against child marriage.
According to her, investing in girls’ education, skills development and economic independence would help them understand their rights, make informed decisions and resist pressures that could jeopardise their future.
She, however, cautioned that skills training alone could not eliminate child marriage, emphasising the need for a comprehensive approach that addresses poverty, gender discrimination and harmful social norms.
Highlighting the foundation’s interventions, Dr. Anyanwu-Akeredolu said BEMORE, established in 2017, had trained more than 3,000 girls through its two-week residential University of Life programme, which focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Entrepreneurship (STEM+E).
She explained that the initiative was designed to equip girls with practical knowledge and skills to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven world, while preparing them for careers in innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership.
The founder noted that the programme went beyond providing laptops by incorporating renewable energy solutions to ensure that participants could effectively utilise technology.
She added that the foundation had, since 2022, expanded its programme to accommodate girls with hearing impairments, stressing that disability and socioeconomic background should not prevent any girl from accessing opportunities for personal and professional development.
Dr. Anyanwu-Akeredolu urged governments to increase funding for girls’ education, expand access to digital literacy and STEM training, and strengthen protection against child marriage and gender-based violence.
She also called on parents and guardians to see their daughters as individuals with enormous potential deserving of investment and support, rather than as economic burdens.
Traditional and community leaders, she said, should champion practices that protect girls’ rights, while the private sector and development partners should provide greater support for programmes that improve their access to education, skills and employment opportunities.
According to her, investment in girls is not merely a social responsibility but a strategic investment in human capital, innovation, public health and national development.
Reaffirming the foundation’s commitment to girls’ empowerment, Anyanwu-Akeredolu said BEMORE would continue to provide opportunities for girls to become educated, technologically skilled, economically independent and confident contributors to society.
She maintained that every girl deserved the opportunity to determine her future and pursue her aspirations without being constrained by child marriage, poverty, discrimination or a lack of access to education.
