Each year, on October 11th, the International Day of the Girl Child spotlights the rights andpotential of girls worldwide. This year’s theme, “Vision for the Future,” calls for collectiveaction to empower girls to create a world where they can thrive without limitations.Canadian girls are powerful agents of change. From advocating for climate action tochampioning human rights and gender equality, they continue to push boundaries and driveprogress. Programs that uplift girls—such as mentorship opportunities and STEM (Science,Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) initiatives—play a crucial role in helping girls reachtheir full potential. Empowering girls involves giving them the skills, confidence, andopportunities to lead with intention and impact. In Canada, this day is especially significant aswe focus on the unique challenges girls face and the celebration of their leadership, education,and equal opportunities.Though Canada is recognised for its commitment to gender equality, many girls continue to facesignificant barriers. These include:Gender-Based Violence: Despite progress, numerous girls in Canada still endure variousforms of violence, such as domestic abuse, sexual harassment, and cyberbullying.Indigenous girls, in particular, face disproportionately high rates of violence, which callsfor targeted interventions and robust support systems.Access to Education: Canada’s high literacy rate is commendable, but gaps remain,especially for girls from marginalised communities. Indigenous girls, girls living in ruralareas, and girls with disabilities often encounter barriers to accessing quality education,which limits their future opportunities.Mental Health: Mental health challenges have become increasingly prevalent amongyoung girls in Canada. Pressures from social media, societal expectations, and academicdemands have led to rising rates of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Providingsafe spaces and mental health support is essential to help girls flourish both emotionallyand mentally.For Canada to truly achieve its vision for the future, we must create an environment where allgirls—regardless of their background—can access the resources they need to succeed. Thisvision includes:Closing the Gender Gap in Leadership: We must encourage girls to pursue leadershiproles in their schools, communities, and, eventually, in government and business. Bynurturing leadership from an early age, we can help build a more equitable future.Supporting Indigenous Girls: Developing culturally relevant educational programs andmental health services for Indigenous girls is key to bridging the gap in access andopportunity. These initiatives should address the specific needs of Indigenouscommunities.Breaking Down Gender Stereotypes: Harmful stereotypes that limit girls’ aspirationsmust be challenged. We must encourage girls to pursue their passions—whether inpolitics, science, or the arts—without fear of being held back by outdated expectations. Promoting Gender-Inclusive Education: Schools should actively teach respect,equality, and the importance of gender diversity. Instilling these values from a young ageis essential to creating a more inclusive and understanding society. ConclusionAs we commemorate the 2024 International Day of the Girl Child, let us reaffirm ourcommitment to building a future where every girl in Canada can live without fear of violence,discrimination, or limitations based on her gender. Our vision for the future must include safe,inclusive, and empowering spaces for all girls, recognising their potential and supporting theirambitions.Together, we can create a world where every girl is empowered to thrive and succeed.

As part of our ongoing commitment to eliminating food insecurity, our Executive Director, Dr Arome Salifu, visited the renowned Daily Bread Food Bank in Ontario, Canada. The visit provided an opportunity to witness firsthand the incredible work being done to address food insecurity in vulnerable communities and explore potential partnerships that can amplify the impact of these efforts on a global scale. During the visit, Dr Salifu engaged in meaningful discussions with the leadership team of Daily Bread Food Bank about the root causes of food insecurity, strategies for sustainable food distribution, and the importance of community-driven approaches to end hunger. Dr Salifu emphasised the need for a multifaceted approach to tackling hunger, involving not only food banks but also partnerships with local farmers, food producers, and government bodies to create lasting solutions. Daily Bread Food Bank, located in Toronto, Ontario, plays a pivotal role in the fight against hunger by collecting and distributing food to those in need across the province. By operating a network of over 135 community agencies, they ensure that surplus food reaches families, individuals, and underserved populations who are facing hunger.  The organisation also runs innovative programs such as meal delivery services, cooking workshops, and youth engagement initiatives to address the multifaceted challenges of food insecurity. The work of food banks like Daily Bread is critical in combating food insecurity and providing immediate relief to those who cannot access nutritious meals regularly. In addition to food distribution, Daily Bread Food Bank focuses on advocating for systemic change, engaging in research on poverty and food insecurity, and collaborating with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders to address the root causes of hunger. They also actively engage in educational outreach, providing resources on budgeting, cooking skills, and healthy eating to help individuals and families build sustainable food practices. Overall, the visit to Daily Bread Food Bank highlighted the vital role of community organizations in addressing food insecurity and underscored the importance of collaborative efforts in creating sustainable solutions to ensure that everyone has access to an adequate and nutritious food supply.

On Monday, the 12th of September 2022, The European Union delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS in Coordination with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), organised an event to formally close the first phase of EU’s flagship democracy support to programmes in Nigeria and launched the second phase, which is expected to be implemented from 2022-2027. The closing event served as an opportunity to learn from EU’s democratic support to Nigeria which allowed attendees get insights into the plans for the second phase. The event was held at the International Conference Centre (ICC) Abuja, Nigeria. During the event, a good will message was presented by the European Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Samuela Isopi and Prof. Mahmood Yakubu Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). There were two panel sessions, the first was on EU-Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria-SDNG’s contribution to Nigeria’s Democratic Consolidation, the discussants were; Mr. Jake Epelle, CEO Albino Foundation, Dr. Musa Umar, National Insyitute of Peace and Strategic Studies, Ms. Brenda Nwosa, Programme Officer, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Mr. Arogundade, Executive Director, International Press Centre., Chigozirim Okoro, Programme Manager, CLEEN Foundation and Manji Wilson, Deputy Project Coordinator, European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) who moderated the session. The second session was on the Challenges and opportunities for a credible 2023 General election in Nigeria, the discussants were; Prof. Attahiru Jega, Former Honourable Chairman, INEC, Prof. Anthonia Simbine, Former National Commissioner, INEC, Dr. Joe Abah, Country Director, DAI, Ms. Cynthia Mbamalu, Head of Programmes, Yiaga Africa, Fr. Atta Barkindo, Head of secretariat, The National Peace Committee and Mr. Seun Okinbaloye, Channels TV who moderated the session. AYGF was ably represented by its Head of Programmes, Patricia Akor.

2023 Theme: Overcoming Barriers and Unleashing Opportunities for Social Justice. Today is World Day of Social Justice! It’s a time to reflect on how we can create a more equitable and fair world for all. In 2009, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution recognizing February 20th as the World Day of Social Justice. This day is dedicated to acknowledging the importance of social justice in promoting world peace, security, and progress. The day is to promote efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, inequality, exclusion, and social injustice. It aims to raise awareness about the importance of social justice in promoting peace and security, reducing poverty and unemployment, and achieving sustainable development. The 2023 World Day of Social Justice aims to promote global solidarity and rebuild trust in governments by working towards achieving the recommendations of Our Common Goals. The focus for this year is “ overcoming barriers and unleashing opportunities for social justice” thereby advancing towards this goal. This day presents an occasion to engage in discussions with stakeholders regarding the actions necessary to reinforce the social contract that has been undermined by the growing disparities, conflicts, and weakened institutions meant to safeguard the rights of workers.These crises notwithstanding, there exist numerous opportunities to form a coalition for social justice and encourage more investments in decent jobs, with a specific focus on the green, digital, and care industries, as well as the younger generation. Violent extremism as one of our focus, is a complex phenomenon with multiple causes, and it affects individuals and communities in different ways. However, at its core, it is an expression of injustice and a rejection of the values of tolerance, diversity, and respect for human rights. To prevent and counter violent extremism, we must address its underlying drivers, which include political and social marginalization, economic inequality, identity-based discrimination, and lack of access to education and social services. We work to address these drivers by promoting social justice and building resilience in communities. We work with local partners to empower individuals and communities to challenge extremist ideologies, promote tolerance and respect for diversity, and foster a sense of belonging and identity. We also advocate for policies that promote social justice and human rights, and support efforts to address the root causes of violent extremism. On this day, AYGF reaffirms its commitment to preventing and countering violent extremism. We believe that justice and peace are inextricably linked, and that a just society is one that is resilient to the appeal of violent extremism, discrimination,and marginalization of any kind. We amplify the theme of “ overcoming barriers and unleashing opportunities for social justice” On this World Social Justice Day, let us come together to promote social justice and create a more equitable world for all. We must continue to work towards a world where everyone can live in dignity and security, free from the threat of violence and discrimination. Join us in this vital mission!

AYGF in her premise of Democratic governance, and ahead of the 25th February, and 11th March general elections, held a press conference to state her expectations of the organization and call on critical stakeholders to address the need for a credible and peaceful elections. The Executive Director, Dr. Arome Salifu delivered a thought provoking and compelling speech which charged the youths to vote for the growth and development of Nigeria. He said “The general election is an opportunity for citizens to choose a leader with solid determination to steer the direction of the country positively” He made a call on security agencies on the need to prioritize the security of the electorates particularly, the members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who are providing support to the process. He further called on INEC, on the need to maintain neutrality and avoid anything that will jeopardize the process. The Press Conference was held at the AYGF Board Room, and had in attendance a dozier of reputable media practitioners from different media houses which include: NTA, Silverbird TV, AIT, Kiss FM, FRCN, Blueprint Newspaper, The Nation, NAN, Daily Trust, PUNCH Newspaper, Guardian, The Sun and Vanguard Newspaper. As we go to the polls for the elections, it is our hope in AYGF that Nigeria will experience a peaceful and credible 2023 elections.