New York City Hall has confirmed that Mayor Bill de Blasio has agreed to keep the unauthorised Fearless Girl statue which was installed to face Wall Street’s Charging Bull sculpture in Manhattan until February 2018, The New York Post reported. The statue will be maintained by the Department of Transportation’s art programme. Assets manager State Street Global Advisors had installed the bronze statue on the eve of International Women’s Day, reported Business Insider.

Several campaigns were launched to preserve the unauthorised sculpture after it was announced that it would be allowed until April 2. “In her short time here, the Fearless Girl has fuelled powerful conversations about women in leadership and inspired so many,” a statement by the mayor said. “Now, she will be asserting herself and affirming her strength even after her temporary permit expires – a fitting path for a girl who refuses to quit.”

The installation is part of the firm’s new campaign that aims to get more women in leadership roles in the corporate world. A company spokesperson had told Reuters that the statue was to attract attention to the lack of gender diversity on boards of companies and the pay gap.

The sculpture was made by Kristen Visbal. The sculpture’s installation was done the same way as that of the Charging Bull statue. The statue made by artist Arturo Di Modica was put up without permission in 1989, reported Adweek. Di Modica has criticised the installation as a publicity stunt. Officials said he may sue the company for copyright infringement.

The company had said that they hoped the statue would be there for about a month. “The idea of having a female sort of stand against the bull, or stand up to the bull, just struck us as a very clever, but also creative and engaging way to make that statement,” Lori Heinel, the firm’s deputy global chief investment officer, had told Business Insider. He added the stance of the girl’s statue was such that it is “willing to challenge and take on the status quo.”