On October 11, the global observance of the day of the girl child, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is advocating for comprehensive sexuality education and the empowerment of young women and adolescent girls. In Nigeria, it has been reported that every week, over 4,000 young women aged between 15 and 24 are newly infected with HIV worldwide, with more than 3,300 of these cases occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa. Dr. Echey Ijezie, the Nigeria Country Programmes Director for AHF, emphasized this issue during the International Day of the Girl Child event held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, with the theme ‘The girl I am, the change I lead: Girls on the frontline of crisis.’ To combat the rise of HIV among adolescents, he called for targeted initiatives from officials to develop programs and policies that enhance access to healthcare, especially sexual and reproductive health services for young women, as well as increased funding for prevention, testing, and treatment of HIV/STI. He also highlighted the necessity to address what he referred to as “period poverty.” Ijezie noted that the event aimed to safeguard girls from HIV, celebrate their successes, and emphasize the urgent need to create more opportunities for their health and well-being, while acknowledging the persistent issues of inadequate menstrual health resources, limited reproductive health service access, and child marriage that young girls still face. He stated, “Globally, adolescent girls and young women carry a disproportionate burden of HIV.” At AHF Nigeria, we are especially worried about the difficulties encountered by young adolescent girls, including limited educational opportunities, inadequate menstrual health management, experiences of gender-based violence, and restricted access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRHR) services, all of which place numerous young girls in danger. “Even with advancements made, the statistics are still concerning. Each week, 4,000 young women between the ages of 15 and 24 contract HIV, with over 3,300 of these incidents occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. As of 2023, there are 1.9 million adolescent girls and young women living with HIV, while the number of boys and young men in the same age group is 1.2 million. Barriers to education are significant, as there are 133 million girls around the globe who are not attending school, which hinders their opportunities for future autonomy and well-being. Inibehe Silas Etukudo, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare in Akwa Ibom, served as the keynote speaker, highlighting that although girls encounter various challenges, they continue to overcome obstacles in their pursuits, proving that difficulties do not define them but rather drive them to find solutions. The commissioner pledged to establish platforms for girls to express their ideas, cultivate their leadership abilities, and realize their potential, mentioning that the state is working on obtaining funding and programs aimed at empowering girls through educational scholarships and health initiatives. Dr. Ekemini Essien, the State Coordinator of AHF, emphasized that girls worldwide are significantly impacted by HIV/AIDS and often face high levels of abuse with limited opportunities compared to boys. He urged authorities to promptly address this issue by equipping girls with the essential resources, knowledge, and skills needed for success while encouraging resilience for a secure future. Jessica Charles, the linkage coordinator of AHF in the state, also stressed the importance of empowering the girl child. She stated that empowerment should not solely focus on economic aspects, but rather on having access to appropriate information, healthcare, education, and the ability to make decisions. She encouraged the girls to always hold their heads high and voice their concerns against any type of abuse. “Now is not the time to be hesitant about expressing your feelings regarding your reproductive health.”