As part of activities marking the 2026 International Women’s Day (IWD), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has launched a new digital platform, the “Yes! Girls Podcast,” designed to provide adolescent girls with a safe space to express their views and discuss issues affecting their lives.
The initiative was unveiled on Friday during a commemorative event held at Nile Cinemas in Enugu. The event brought together students, government officials, and gender advocates under the global IWD theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls.”
Students from City Comprehensive School, Nsukka, Spring of Life Secondary School, and Modern Ideal College attended the gathering, which served as the official launchpad for the podcast. The platform aims to shift the narrative from merely speaking about girls’ issues to actively listening to the voices of young girls themselves.
Speaking at the event, Ngozi Izuora Songu, Adolescent Development Specialist at UNICEF, described the “Yes! Girls Podcast” as more than just digital content.
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According to her, the podcast will serve as a safe and empowering platform for girls aged 9 to 19 to discuss critical issues such as mental health, education, menstrual hygiene, HPV prevention, and climate action.
She noted that by placing girls at the centre of conversations that affect them, the initiative seeks to break barriers including school dropout, harmful gender norms, and limited access to information factors that continue to hinder many adolescent girls in Nigeria.
Mbah Esther, director of Gender at the Ministry of Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development in Enugu State, commended UNICEF for the initiative and said that the organisation is involved in many programs involving women and children’s welfare in the state.
She encouraged the students to recognise their potential and use the knowledge gained to speak out against injustice, abuse, and harassment.
Annie Enweani, chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Enugu State chapter, reminded participants that fundamental rights such as access to education, property ownership, and leadership opportunities must be actively defended.
She stressed that the call for “Rights to Action” means the current generation must not remain passive, warning that at the present pace of progress, it could take centuries to close the gender gap, commending UNICEF for coming up with such a wonderful program.
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Some of the students who spoke to BusinessDay were happy and excited about the opportunities the platform provided for them.
Ezeugwu Rita Ezinne, a student of City Comprehensive School, Nsukka, said the programme helped her realise that the opinions of girls matter and that they should not hesitate to speak out when necessary.
Abigail Anike, representing the Young African Stars, described the event as transformative, highlighting the synergy between “beauty and brains” and encouraging girls to embrace their intelligence and capabilities and never be carried away when they first approach with the praise of their beauty.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of the podcast, demonstrating how the platform will enable girls to freely express their views and contribute meaningfully to conversations affecting their lives without fear of intimidation or harassment.
