The Raising Women Initiative (RWI) has successfully hosted its highly anticipated Raising Girls Workshop across two leading schools in Lagos—Lagos Anglican Girls Grammar School and Queen’s College—reaching over 1,000 girls in celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child. The workshop, themed “Girls to Women: Invest, Include, and Inspire”, 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.
Dr. May Ikeora, Executive Director of RWI and convener of the workshop, kicked off the event by encouraging the girls to define their own paths and pursue their dreams fearlessly. “This is such a pivotal time in your life,” Dr. May said, addressing the girls. “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. May also praised the teachers for their continuous dedication in raising strong, confident young women.
The event was action-packed, with the girls enthusiastically participating in choreographed routines to Beyoncé’s iconic anthem, “Girls Run the World”, led by Louise Marie Stage School. Mrs. Louise Holloway, CEO of the stage school, spoke to the students about the power of confidence and using their voices to effect change. The choreography not only energized the crowd but also helped the girls express their inner strength through movement.
A particularly inspiring session, “Dream Big”, was facilitated by motivational speaker Ms. Nkem Offonabo. The girls were captivated by the real-life success stories shared by special guest speakers, including Mildred Peace, the 41st Miss Nigeria, and Engr. Antoinette Uwumarogie, an esteemed professional in the STEM field. Both women shared their journeys of resilience, hard work, and determination. Engr. Uwumarogie passionately encouraged 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 particularly moved by Mrs. Dorah Adeyemi-Adewuni, a proud alumna of Lagos Anglican Girls Grammar School, who reminded the girls how much her secondary school experience contributed to her own success. She urged them to make the most of their education and opportunities.
During the interactive question-and-answer session, the topic of bullying emerged as a key issue raised by many of the girls. It was evident that bullying deeply affects their confidence and daily lives. The RWI facilitators took time to address these concerns, equipping the girls with strategies to confront such challenges and emphasizing the importance of supporting one another.
The workshop concluded with a special award ceremony where RWI presented Recognition Awards to the principals of both schools. Chief Mrs. Folasade Ogedengbe, Principal of Lagos Anglican Girls Grammar School, and Dr. Mrs. Oyindamola Obalori, Principal of Queen’s College, were honored for their relentless dedication to nurturing the next generation of women leaders.
Chief Mrs. Ogedengbe expressed her gratitude, saying, “Workshops like these are vital to the growth of our students. They need role models who show them what is possible, and today’s event has done just that.”
Dr. Mrs. Obalori of Queen’s College represented by one of her teachers also shared, “We are extremely proud of our girls and are grateful to RWI for creating a platform where their voices are heard and their dreams validated. The girls are leaving this event feeling more empowered and inspired.”
In a heartwarming gesture, Dr. May Ikeora also signed copies of her book “Find Her Light” for a few lucky girls. The students eagerly lined up to receive signed copies, expressing excitement about learning more from the wisdom shared in her book.
The workshop was made possible through the generous support of Bulk Strategic Reserve (BSR) L’Avyanna Skin Naturals, who provided free beauty products to some of the attendees, adding a touch of self-care to the empowering event.
RWI’s next Raising Girls Summit will take place in Abuja in November 2024, with even more exciting sessions and powerful role models lined up to inspire the girls of the nation’s capital.
In addition, Raising Women Magazine was published today with Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai on the cover, celebrating the International Day of the Girl Child and reinforcing RWI’s 2024 agenda: “Girls to Women: Invest, Include, and Inspire.”
