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As the world marks the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child, renowned humanitarian, agribusiness expert, and founder of the End Hunger Humanitarian Initiative (EHHI), Dr. Emem Aniekanabasi Alban, has reaffirmed her commitment to advancing the rights, wellbeing, and opportunities of girls in Nigeria and across Africa.
This year’s global theme, “Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being,” aligns with Dr. Alban’s long-standing advocacy and practical work empowering girls in underserved and vulnerable communities through nutrition, education, agriculture, and capacity-building initiatives.
“When we invest in girls, we’re investing in the future of nations. Their dreams must be protected with nourishment, knowledge, and the power to lead,” Dr. Alban said in a statement to mark the day.
Through her foundation, End Hunger Humanitarian Initiative, Dr. Alban has launched high-impact programs such as the “Feed One Million Kids” campaign, reaching rural communities and internally displaced persons (IDPs) with lifesaving food supplies, nutritional education, and dignity-affirming services. Her efforts ensure that girls — who are often the most affected by hunger and poverty — can stay in school, grow in health, and access opportunity.
She also serves as a Girls and Women Speak Ambassador under the Peace Ambassadors Advocacy Network in affiliation with the United Nations, using her voice and platform to challenge inequality and advocate for gender-inclusive development policies.
Dr. Alban’s advocacy spans beyond food. She champions access to education, clean water, sanitation, vocational skills, and the elimination of early child marriage and gender-based violence. Her holistic approach to humanitarian development has earned her national and international recognition, including the Paul Harris Fellow Award (Rotary International) and the JOM Charity Award for Humanitarian Excellence.
This year, Dr. Alban is calling for greater collaboration between government agencies, NGOs, and the private sector to create sustainable solutions that prioritize girls’ rights — especially in remote, rural, and conflict-affected communities.
“Empowering the girl child is not a one-day campaign. It must be a national agenda, woven into how we design our education systems, agricultural investments, and healthcare policies,” she emphasized.
As part of this year’s commemoration, the End Hunger Initiative is hosting outreach events across IDP camps and rural schools in the FCT, Akwa Ibom, and other regions — offering food support, health checkups, mentorship sessions, and dialogue forums to inspire and uplift young girls.
Dr. Alban’s message is clear: A nourished, educated, and empowered girl today becomes the resilient leader of tomorrow.
