NILDS, EU Celebrate Girl Child with Grand Finale of Secondary Schools Debate Competition

National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), in collaboration with the European Union (EU), has concluded its secondary schools debate competition to commemorate the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, with Government Day Secondary School, Dutse-Alhaji, emerging overall winner.

The grand finale, held today ,October 12, 2026, brought together students, government officials, policymakers and international representatives to promote awareness of girls’ rights, gender equality and the need to end child marriage.

The Head of Mission of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, commended NILDS for partnering with the EU on the initiative, describing the competition as an important platform for promoting gender equality, leadership and youth participation in public discourse.

Ambassador Mignot noted that the theme of the 2026 celebration, “End Child Marriage, Invest in Girl Child,” highlights the challenges confronting girls globally, including limited access to education, inadequate sexual and reproductive health services, discrimination and early or forced marriage.

He observed that despite progress in educational access, significant gaps remained in achieving gender equality and protecting the rights of girls. He stressed the need for targeted investments and sustained interventions to address structural inequalities and accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

The EU Ambassador emphasised that empowering women and girls was essential to societal development, noting that gender equality contributes to stronger institutions, improved performance and more prosperous societies.

He explained that the European Union integrates gender equality into its external partnerships and development programmes, including initiatives addressing sexual and gender-based violence, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, and access to education.

Ambassador Mignot described the debate competition as an opportunity to strengthen students’ confidence, communication and leadership skills while encouraging them to contribute meaningfully to discussions on issues affecting their lives and communities.

He also announced that the winning team would be invited to the EU Delegation to learn more about the Union and its activities.

In his remarks, the Director-General of NILDS, Professor Abubakar O. Sulaiman, commended the participating students for their commitment and performance throughout the competition.

Professor Sulaiman observed that the quality of the debates demonstrated the students’ growing capacity for effective communication, critical thinking and constructive engagement with societal challenges.

He noted that the competition went beyond identifying winners, providing young people with an opportunity to speak confidently about their rights and demonstrate their potential for future leadership.

The Director-General expressed appreciation to the European Union and other partners for supporting the initiative, reaffirming the Institute’s commitment to strengthening legislative capacity, promoting inclusive democratic governance and advancing evidence-based policymaking through strategic partnerships.

At the grand finale, Government Day Secondary School, Dutse-Alhaji, emerged winner with an average score of 89%, while Government Science Secondary School, Maitama, secured the second position with 76%.
Ambassador Global Academy, Kwali, came third with 75.3%, while Baptist High School, Kubwa, finished in fourth position with 69.6%.

The final debate centred on the topic, “Empowering Girls Is More Effective Than Punishing Offenders in Ending Child Marriage,” challenging participants to examine approaches to preventing child marriage and safeguarding the rights, dignity, safety and educational opportunities of girls.

At the conclusion of the competition, Government Day Secondary School, Dutse-Alhaji, received a certificate, trophy and cash prize of ₦1 million. Government Science Secondary School, Maitama, which placed second, received a certificate, trophy and ₦500,000.

Ambassador Global Academy, Kwali, received a certificate, trophy and cash prize of ₦250,000 for its third-place finish, while Baptist High School, Kubwa, received a certificate and cash prize of ₦100,000 for placing fourth.

Individual awards were also presented to Farouq Fatima, who emerged Best in Spoken English, and Onuoha Ngozi Grace, who was named Overall Best Speaker.

Through the initiative, NILDS and the European Union reaffirmed the importance of education, youth engagement and collaborative advocacy in advancing gender equality and building a society in which girls can realise their full potential.