Today, the world celebrates the girl child.

In a country like Nigeria and a continent like Africa where the girl child is relegated to the kitchen and the other room, where her value and worth is not commensurate to that of a male child, where she can be married off before puberty because her agency is denied her, where her education is only considered after the boys go to school; In a world where even her pay is much lower than her male counterparts for no other reason than that she is female, this celebration of the girl child today is of utmost importance.

Oby Ezekwesili, co-founder of Transparency Intl and BBOGactivist uses the occasion to share her deepest desires for the girl child.

See below:

Hello our Girls!??‍♀️??????
We LOVE YOU EVERYDAY but WE especially celebrate YOU today.
You are our Future. You're our NOW!#DayOfTheGirl

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) October 11, 2017

This is a good day for everyone of us to inspire, validate, empower & celebrate EVERY #GirlChild within our reach. #JustDoIt!#DayOfTheGirl

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) October 11, 2017

Are YOU a Dad? Then start TODAY (if you never did before) to speak words of Validation to your #GirlChild. SHE CAN BECOME! #DayOfTheGirl

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) October 11, 2017

Today is a good day for Political Leaders & Policy Makers to RECOMMIT to ACTIONS that secure, educate &empower ALL OUR GIRLS. #DayOfTheGirl

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) October 11, 2017

I miss not having a daughter ALL THE TIME. I however especially miss not having a daughter on the #DayOfTheGirl every year. #ILoveDaughters!

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) October 11, 2017

Pres @MBuhari VP @ProfOsinbajo As YOU celebrate YOUR Daughters today #DayOfTheGirl, REMEMBER to #BringBackOurGirls – #113 of #ChibokGirls!!

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) October 11, 2017

WE @BBOG_Nigeria SHALL REMIND Pres @MBuhari that WE REFUSE INERTIA in efforts to #BringBackOurGirls. Our Girls MUST BE BROUGHT BACK NOW!!!

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) October 11, 2017