By Obianuju Azukaego
Leading female voices across academia, governance, and advocacy have called on Nigerian girls to reject inferiority complexes and societal barriers that limit their potential, urging them instead to pursue excellence, confidence, and leadership.
This charge was made during the commemoration of the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child, organized by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Anambra State Chapter, at the Godwin Ezemo Press Centre, Awka.
Chairing the event, Prof. Stella Okunna, Sub-Saharan Africa’s first female Professor of Mass Communication and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Paul University, Awka, urged young girls to rise above gender stereotypes and societal expectations that have long suppressed women’s advancement.
“The society may not offer you a level playing field, but that should never stop you. Believe in your worth, work hard, and push beyond every limitation,” Prof. Okunna charged.
She lamented that entrenched social norms continue to instill inferiority complexes in girls but encouraged them to emulate the Igbo adage, “Nwanyi bu ife”—a woman is something—to remind themselves of their inner strength and potential.
Delivering a paper titled “Grooming the Girl Child for All-Round Development,” the Anambra State Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon. Nkemdiche Ikpeazu, urged girls to remain focused on education and avoid distractions from peer pressure or negative influences.
“Be intentional about your goals. Leadership begins with responsibility,” she said, while also appealing to parents and teachers to maintain open communication with girls to help them navigate emotional and social challenges.
In her keynote address, Prof. Nkechi Ikediugwu, Chairman of the Post Primary Schools Service Commission (PPSSC), emphasized that education remains the most powerful weapon for the empowerment of women.
“A quality education to the university level will earn you respect and open doors of opportunity,” she advised, encouraging girls to complement formal learning with skill acquisition for financial independence.
Prof. Ikediugwu commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for launching the “One Youth, Two Skills” initiative, describing it as a bold step toward youth empowerment.
Speaking on “The Power of Resilience as a Girl Child,” Mrs. Nchedo Mbamalu-Chukwu, founder of the KeyCoune Success Foundation, described girls as the “powerhouse of the nation,” urging them never to allow anyone silence their voices or dreams.
“You are born resilient. Face your studies first; success will attract success,” she said, calling on girls to persevere in the face of challenges.
On “Building Self-Confidence,” motivational speaker Miss Oluchukwu Iloduba reminded participants that success is not defined by background or wealth.
“You don’t need to come from a rich family to succeed. What matters is the family that comes from you,” she asserted, warning that comparison is “the thief of joy.”
She encouraged girls to cultivate self-belief, maintain positive energy, and develop passion-driven goals while urging teachers and parents to sustain healthy communication channels with them.
Earlier, Comrade Tochukwu Ifejika, Chairperson of NAWOJ Anambra Chapter, in her welcome remarks, said the 2025 theme, “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontline of Crises,” was chosen to celebrate the strength, resilience, and transformative power of every girl child.
“The girl child is central to societal growth and development. We must empower her to take her rightful place,” she said, appreciating participating schools and teachers for their support.
The event featured motivational speeches, drama presentations, and award recognitions for outstanding students.
