The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Kaduna Polo Club have used an all-female novelty polo match to draw attention to the rights, safety and wellbeing of women and adolescent girls, as concerns grow over teenage pregnancy, child marriage and gender-based violence.
The advocacy initiative, organised in partnership with the Elamin Polo Team on October 21 and 22 in Kaduna, featured a public dialogue with adolescent girls and a special exhibition match tagged Polo for Humanity, introducing an all-female team into a traditionally male-dominated sport.
The events, held to commemorate the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, sought to challenge restrictive gender norms, promote the inclusion and agency of girls and mobilise influential stakeholders to strengthen efforts to prevent gender-based violence (GBV) and harmful practices.
UNFPA cited findings from the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey indicating that 29.9 per cent of adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 had experienced pregnancy, highlighting the challenges facing young girls in accessing opportunities to complete their education and realise their potential.
The agency also warned that violent conflicts, which affect nearly half of young people globally through their impact on health, rights and dignity, further expose adolescent girls to risks, including gender-based violence, female genital mutilation and child marriage.
Speaking at the opening of the novelty polo match, UNFPA Resident Representative, Ms Muriel Mafico, said society must protect girls’ childhoods and ensure they have opportunities to pursue their ambitions.
“No girl should have to exchange her childhood for marriage, her education for motherhood, or her dreams. Investment in girls is the smartest thing we can do,” Mafico said.
She said UNFPA worked with partners to provide critical support to adolescent girls, including those in Nigeria, as part of efforts to protect their rights and improve their wellbeing.
The use of polo as an advocacy platform was designed to take the conversation beyond conventional policy forums by engaging sporting communities, young people, policymakers and other influential stakeholders in promoting the rights of women and girls.
The First Vice-President of the Kaduna Polo Club, Brigadier-General Kapeh Kazir (retd.), said the club was proud to deploy sport in support of social causes.
He said the club would continue to open its doors to initiatives that promote equality and protect the future of Nigerian children.
The UNFPA and its partners expressed appreciation to the participating players, club members, partners and the media, pledging to sustain their collaboration beyond the International Day of the Girl Child commemoration.
They said the partnership would support continued advocacy on gender-based violence prevention, harmful practices, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and maternal health interventions.
UNFPA is the United Nations’ sexual and reproductive health agency, working towards a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person can fulfil their potential.
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