Experts have emphasised that girls’ experiences in secondary school largely shape their intelligence in making crucial decisions that define their future as adults.
This was part of the key lessons at a workshop tagged “Raising Girls Workshop” hosted by Raising Women Initiative (RWI) to mark this year’s International Girl-Child Day.
The workshop was held in two leading schools in Lagos State, including Lagos Anglican Girls Grammar School and Queen’s College. LEADERSHIP observed that the programme recorded the participation of over 1,000 girls.
In her opening address at the workshop, themed “Girls to Women: Invest, Include, and Inspire”, the executive director of RWI, Dr May Ikeora, stated that the programme was designed to empower young girls to be bold, confident, and courageous in following their dreams, despite societal barriers often faced by girls in Africa.
She charged the girls to define their paths and fearlessly pursue their dreams. “This is such a pivotal time in your life,” Dr Ikeora told the girls, emphasising, “The choices you make in secondary school can greatly shape your future. Never let anyone tell you that you can’t achieve greatness—you are the leaders of tomorrow.”
Dr Ikeora praised the teachers for their continuous dedication to raising strong, confident young women.
Executive director of Louise Marie Stage School, Mrs. Louise Holloway thrilled the girls with choreographed routines to Beyoncé’s iconic anthem, “Girls Run the World”.
She spoke to the students about the power of confidence and using their voices to effect change.
A particularly inspiring session, “Dream Big”, was facilitated by a motivational speaker, Ms Nkem Offonabo.
Some of the guest speakers, including Mildred Peace, the 41st Miss Nigeria, and Engr. Antoinette Uwumarogie, an esteemed professional in the STEM field, narrated their real-life success stories to inspire the girls.
The two women shared experiences of their journeys of resilience, hard work, and determination.
Engr Uwumarogie urged the girls to explore careers in STEM, saying, “Girls belong in STEM, and we have the power to change the world through innovation and science.”
The students were said to have been particularly motivated by Mrs Dorah Adeyemi-Adewuni, a proud Lagos Anglican Girls Grammar School alumna, who narrated how her secondary school experiences contributed to her success.
She urged them to make the most of their education and opportunities.
During the question-and-answer session, the topic of bullying in secondary schools was raised by many of the girls. It was evident that bullying deeply affects their confidence and daily lives.
The RWI facilitators were said to have addressed the concerns raised. They educated the girls with strategies to confront such challenges, emphasising the importance of supporting one another.
Principals of the two schools where the workshop was hosted, Chief Mrs Folasade Ogedengbe of Lagos Anglican Girls Grammar School and Dr Mrs Oyindamola Obalori of Queen’s College, were honoured for their dedication to nurturing the next generation of women leaders.
The principals expressed their gratitude and described the workshop as vital to the growth of the students.
Happy about the success of the programme, the RWI director, Dr Ikeora, distributed some copies of her book “Find Her Light” to a few lucky ones among the girls.
According to the programme, the workshop was co-sponsored by Bulk Strategic Reserve (BSR) L’Avyanna Skin Naturals, who provided free beauty products to some participants.
RWI’s next Raising Girls Summit will be held in Abuja in November 2024. More role models are expected to participate to inspire girls of the nation’s capital.
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