Dear Younger Me: Honouring the International Day of the Girl Child 2025

In honour of the International Day of the Girl Child, I wrote this letter to my younger self, a girl who was curious, outspoken, and brave, yet often made to feel small in a world that demanded her silence. This piece is both reflection and advocacy, a reminder that the journey to empowerment begins with self-acceptance. It is for every girl who has ever been told she is too much, too loud, or too bold.

Dear Darling Girl,

I remember you so well: curious, hopeful, intelligent, and beautiful. There were times you were confused and afraid, but you were mostly brave. From day one, you were never afraid to speak your mind or stand up for others. You do not know it yet, but the world will try to shame you, humble you, and tell you that you are not enough. It will try to make you believe that your opinions are invalid, that your convictions are foolish, and that your self-worth must be negotiated.

Growing up as a girl in Nigeria is one of the hardest journeys. There are so many odds against you, from patriarchy to harmful traditions, from gender-based violence to the silent battles of self-doubt. But even in all that, you will learn that African girls are powerful beyond measure. We rise, we rebuild, and we thrive despite it all.

You will enter spaces where you will see very few people who look like you. You will be gaslighted, dismissed, and told that your truth does not matter. They will try to keep you quiet because they know that your voice is power. But your voice will become your greatest tool. You will not always be accepted because you refuse to be a pushover or to follow blindly. That will unsettle many, but you will learn not to be afraid of standing out.

You will see things that no girl should ever see. But you will also learn to name them, challenge them, and build communities that heal. You will realise that the shame society tries to hand you does not belong to you; it belongs to the oppressors, the enablers, and those who refuse to take accountability for harmful traditions and cultures. You will unlearn shame and become so comfortable in your skin that no one’s opinion can define you.

You will stop chasing approval. You will learn that you do not need validation from others to thrive. That realisation will free you and allow you to grow into a woman who is both soft and unbreakable.

I remember when you were struggling to accept yourself and find where you belonged. Your dear uncle once told you something that changed your life: “Your personality is a strength. What matters is how you harness it.” From that moment, you found freedom. You embraced your individuality with grace. No one could successfully shame you for being who you are anymore. You became self-aware, open to growth, but firm in your identity. And that was the first step towards creating the change you have always dreamed of.

You will come to realise that you are one of the privileged girls from where you come from, and with that privilege comes a responsibility. You will take up the pain of others as your own. You will understand that your empathy, that unrest you feel when others suffer, was divinely placed within you. You will harness it to ensure that girls like you are not silenced or oppressed.

One day, you will fight for women and girls because no one fought for you. You will speak directly to policymakers, engage communities, and use your voice to challenge injustice. You will fight against child marriage, female genital mutilation, and all forms of gender-based violence. You will speak about the climate crisis and how it disproportionately affects African women and girls. You will use your story to show that power and resistance can exist even in pain.

You will grow into the woman you needed as a girl. And you will keep becoming her.

As we celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child 2025, may we remember that every girl carries within her the power to transform her world. The journey begins with self-belief, with unlearning shame, reclaiming our voices, and standing tall in our truth. To every girl still finding her place, know this: you are enough, you are seen, and your voice matters. The world needs you exactly as you are.