By Adeola Samuel
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has challenged young women to reject societal norms that encourage silence and shame, urging them instead to embrace courage, confidence, and self-worth.
Speaking in Abuja at a mentorship session marking the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child, the Kogi Central senator said women must unlearn the culture of blame and submission that limits their potential.
“Women have been raised to take the shame, wear the blame, and zip their mouths shut. But that ends with us,” she said. “We must find the courage to be bold, audacious, and fearless, to break barriers and climb higher mountains.”
The event, themed “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontlines of Crisis,” brought together over 50 young women from across Nigeria for open dialogue and mentorship.
Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasized that her mission goes beyond politics, saying her greatest fulfillment lies in empowering women and transforming disadvantaged communities.
Guest speaker Yakubu Oyiza Hope, an anti-human trafficking advocate, shared her journey from surviving abduction to championing victims’ rights, inspiring participants who called for sustained mentorship programmes.
