A non-governmental organiation, Mothers And Marginalised Advocacy (MAMA) Centre, has highlighted the critical lack of access to essential healthcare services for girls, warning that this deficiency heightens their vulnerability to exploitation.

A statement signed by Excecutive Director of MAMA Center, Ms Chioma B. Kanu, while celebrating the Children’s Day on Tuesday, the organisation called for government action towards quick access to healthcare.

The NGO further advocated for the provision of accessible and affordable healthcare for all girls and women, particularly in underserved communities.

In addition, the NGO urged collective action for a Nigeria where every girl can grow up safe, educated, and free from exploitation.

It lamented that the crucial needs of Nigerian girls and vulnerable populations are frequently neglected.

She said, Mama Centre as an organisation, founded and led by survivors, women and girls who survived modern slavery/domestic servitude and sexual assault) works to ensure that the critical and often overlooked needs of Nigerian girls and vulnerable groups are addressed.

She called upon the Nigerian government, international organisations, civil society groups, and the public to unite and tackle the needs of children, especially girls.

“Drawing upon lived experiences, we urge increased awareness, targeted interventions, and stronger protective measures to safeguard this vulnerable population,” Kanu said.

It also stressed the intolerable vulnerability of girls and women in conflicts settings.

Citing the experience in North East Nigeria, where the girl-child and some boys were abuse and violently exploited, MAMA Centre said the International Children’s Day should be a time to reflect on the plight of all vulnerable children and bring hope to them.

‘’Studies indicate that children form the largest group of victims of trafficking in Nigeria, both internally and externally. In 2020, NAPTIP reported four cases of children exploited in the commercial sex industry, with another five cases in the first half of 2021. In the context of the conflict in North East Nigeria, between 2017 and 2019, the UN verified that 204 children (195 girls and 9 boys) were affected by sexual violence, including exploitation, slavery, and forced marriage, attributed to Boko Haram and Nigerian Security Forces.

According to reports, Boko Haram kidnapped over 1,000 children in Nigeria since 2013, with girls often forced into sexual slavery and “marriage” with fighters.

Girls and children in Nigeria are subjected to various forms of modern slavery, including forced labour, a situation where children are in domestic service, often as “house girls” facing abuse. There is also exploitation of young girls to produce children for sale, also known as “Baby Factories.”

The organisation bemoaned that the above-mentioned issues are deeply intertwined with modern slavery. We understand the insidious ways in which vulnerability can be exploited,” said Kanu.

“This year’s Children’s Day should be a time of celebration and hope, but for countless girls in Nigeria, it is a stark reminder of the dangers they face daily. We cannot stand idly by while their futures are stolen.”

She urged attention to several key areas requiring urgent action such as education and empowerment.

‘’We advocate for increased investment in girls’ education, scholarships for Marginalised communities, and programs that promote financial independence for women,’ Kanu added.