First Lady and Chief Girl Guide Sajidha Mohamed has stated that girls must not be confined to walking behind others, but should be leading the way.

She made these remarks at a special march held to mark International Day of Girl Child, which saw a large turnout of girls participating to highlight their rights, leadership potential and the challenges they face.

The First Lady said she was pleased to see strong participation in an event dedicated to raising the voices of girls. She noted that activities like this emphasise the importance of recognising girls, understanding their challenges and nurturing leadership from a young age.

First Lady Sajidha expressed regret that the leadership shown by many girls in childhood is often silenced as they grow older. She urged girls not to allow this to happen and encouraged them to be brave, step forward with confidence and lead by example.

Referring to this year’s International Girls’ Day theme, she said the Girl Guide movement is committed to supporting girls and is often at the forefront during emergencies and incidents. Sajidha added that she is pleased to see guides taking the lead in discussing the experiences and difficulties faced by girls, expressing hope that they will continue to be strong role models in leadership.