Every girl deserves the opportunity to learn, to live in safety and to shape her own future. Yet for millions of girls, the journey to adulthood remains marked by child marriage, gender-based violence, poverty and barriers to education.

The United Nations established the International Day of the Girl Child to recognise girls’ rights and the unique challenges they face. In 2026, the call to action is particularly important: ending child marriage and investing in girls’ rights must remain priorities for governments, communities and development partners.

UNICEF continues to highlight the consequences of child marriage for girls’ education, health and future opportunities. UNESCO advances the right to inclusive and equitable education, while the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) works to protect adolescent girls’ health, bodily autonomy and reproductive rights.

Girls and climate decisions

Beyond education and protection, girls must also have a voice in decisions about the environment and the future of their communities. Through the UNFCCC process, the Women and Gender Constituency advocates for gender-responsive climate action and the meaningful participation of women and girls in climate policy. In Nigeria, translating these commitments into reality requires sustained action by government institutions, schools, civil society, families and community leaders.

Our commitment

At SWEDIWorld, we believe girls are not merely beneficiaries of development. They are knowledge holders, innovators and active contributors to solutions for the challenges facing their communities. Through our work on girls’ education, menstrual dignity and climate justice, including the Girls’ Voices for Climate Just Futures initiative, we are creating space for adolescent girls to express their perspectives and contribute ideas about the futures they want.

Girls must be safe enough to learn, supported enough to thrive and heard enough to lead.

Ending child marriage, protecting girls’ rights and investing in their education and leadership cannot be achieved through a single campaign or organisation. It requires sustained commitment, adequate resources and collective action.

Children’s Day: protecting every child

On Children’s Day, a family photo served as a reminder of the joy, innocence and promise every child deserves, and yet, SWEDIWorld noted, hearts remain heavy for the many Nigerian children whose daily reality is marked by fear and uncertainty instead of safety and celebration. The organisation called on professionals and leaders to strengthen their commitment to protecting every child and building a future where all can thrive without fear.

World Menstrual Hygiene Day: end the stigma

In Nigeria, countless girls still miss school, face stigma and lack basic menstrual products, silently losing dignity and education. Yet change is happening: menstrual hygiene kits are reaching schoolgirls through SWEDI Care, proving that a #PeriodFriendlyNigeria is possible. End the stigma. Period.

To support, partner with or learn more about this work, write to contact@swediworld.org.

SWEDIWorld attended a memorable evening celebrating International Women’s Day 2026: the Diplomatic Cocktail hosted by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Nigeria, in collaboration with the NigWED Project (Nigerian Women Economic Development Project) and partners including ADWIN, UBWA, WII and UNERO.

The evening was held under the theme “Give to Gain: Leveraging Financial Inclusion to Support Nigerian Women’s Socio-Economic Development”. Highlights included the flag-off of the NigWED Project 2026–2030, entrepreneurship support programmes, awards, live jazz and cultural music, and networking.

SWEDIWorld thanked the Chief Host, H.E. Pieter Leenknegt, Ambassador of Belgium to Nigeria, Deputy Head of Mission and Consul Véronique Bernard, and the entire Embassy team for opening their residence and championing women’s economic empowerment.

At SWEDIWorld, #GiveToGain means action. For International Women’s Day 2026, the organisation set out what giving has produced:

• Scholarships for 40+ girls in underserved public schools in Abuja.
• Dignity kits and menstrual education through SWEDI Care.
• Climate-justice training for adolescents in the Girls’ Voices for Climate Just Futures pilot.
• Climate-smart support to women farmers in Benue and Makurdi.
• Vocational programmes for 500+ rural women in Benue, Nasarawa and Abuja.

What we gain, SWEDIWorld says, is stronger families, resilient communities and real gender equality. The call to action: give your time, your advocacy and your resources today to build a world where every woman and girl thrives.

Every step has been about empowering lives and building futures: one girl, one woman, one community at a time.

To support, partner with or learn more about this work, write to contact@swediworld.org.

SWEDIWorld took part, virtually, in the WIPO IP and Women Business Summit on 20 March 2025 at the United Nations House in Abuja. The summit is a platform for empowering women to lead, create and innovate, and for inspiring greater participation by women in intellectual property in Nigeria.

The keynote, “My Journey to Leadership and Lessons for Women in the Marketplace”, was delivered by Ms. Dupe Olusola, Founder of the Next Generation Foundation and former Managing Director and CEO of Transcorp Hotels Plc. SWEDIWorld shared the main lessons:

Leadership and growth

• Lead with kindness: true leadership is rooted in empathy.
• Mentorship: mentor others and seek mentorship.
• Personal development: invest in your growth and master your field.
• Embrace challenges as catalysts for growth, and focus on what aligns with your core objectives.

Empowerment and confidence

• Be bold, know your worth and stay authentic, especially through transitions.
• Define and uphold personal values, and adapt, including by walking away from networks that no longer serve a positive purpose.

Collaboration and inclusion

• Create opportunities for others; inclusive environments produce richer outcomes.
• Focus on continuous improvement, not competition, and build networks through associations.

Strategic positioning and legacy

• Show your work, be intentional and move from talk to execution.
• Prioritise self-care, and decide how you want to be remembered.

“Ms. Olusola’s insights serve as a guiding light,” SWEDIWorld reflected. “I am glad I was in the room.”

She is confident. She is empowered. She is unstoppable.

Education fuels her progress, and empowerment shapes her future. She is not just breaking barriers; she is building new paths for generations to follow.

This year, SWEDIWorld did more than celebrate women: it committed to action. “We accelerate change. We demand equality. We create opportunities. Because when women rise, the world rises with them.”

SWEDIWorld joined the global call to #AccelerateAction for a future where every woman thrives.