The Wife of the Governor of Abia State Mrs. Priscilla Otti has advocated for the building of strong institutions for the protection of rights and development of the girl child.

Mrs. Otti who stated this at the Women development centre, Oguruibe layout, Umuahia on the occasion of the celebration of 2023 International day of the girl child disclosed that Governor Alex Otti has programmes that will uplift the welfare of the girl child in Abia State.

The Abia first lady noted that the girl child is usually affected by a lot of exploitation in the society which can be eradicated.

She urged the girl child to maintain good behavior that will secure their future and help them attain desired goals in life.

The Wife of the Governor described many factors that are working against adequate development of the girl child to include; gender based violence, forced labour, sexual abuse, child trafficking among others, and assured her office's determination to protecting the rights of the girl child in the State.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in the State, Mrs. Ngozi Felix in her address, said that the celebration of the International day of the girl child is marked yearly to encourage those in places of power to improve the welfare of the girl child, and crusade against obnoxious practices meted to the girl child in the society.

She commended the wife of the governor Mrs. Priscilla Otti for efforts towards eradication of gender based violence, child marriage, genital mutilation, and other privileges of the girl child denied them.

In her remarks, the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Lilian Agbai thanked the Wife of the Governor for her various interventions towards protection of rights of the girl child and pledged the support of the Judiciary in achieving the desired goals of this year's theme of the celebration of International day of the girl child.