African Girls’ Assembly Brings Girls Together to Champion Leadership, Confidence and Their Rights

The inaugural African Girls’ Assembly has brought together adolescent girls and stakeholders in Abuja, urging greater investment in girls’ confidence, leadership development and participation in decision-making ahead of the International Day of the Girl Child.

Held on Saturday, October 10, 2026, the Assembly was convened by the Educate a Woman Initiative under the theme, “Empowered Girls, Transformational Leaders,” to amplify girls’ voices and equip them with the skills and confidence to take up leadership roles in their communities and across Africa.

The gathering took place ahead of the International Day of the Girl Child, observed globally on October 11, whose 2026 theme, “End child marriage and invest in girls’ rights,” highlights the importance of protecting girls from harmful practices while expanding opportunities for their education, health, safety and development.

At the Assembly, stakeholders emphasised that preparing girls for leadership requires early investment in their confidence, agency, networks and ability to advocate for themselves and others.

Mrs Joy Aderele, a board member of the Educate a Woman Initiative, stressed the importance of equipping girls to take on leadership responsibilities competently. She encouraged them to express their opinions, speak up for themselves and become advocates for others, noting that leadership development should begin while girls are still young.

The event also featured Mrs Love Idoko-Uloko, Founder of Activate Success International Foundation, who challenged participants to overcome fear, pursue their ambitions and build confidence through action. She emphasised that leadership is not about being the loudest person in the room but about making a difference and solving problems.

Idoko-Uloko encouraged the girls to develop innovative ideas, address societal challenges and refuse to allow difficult circumstances or past mistakes to limit their aspirations. Drawing from her entrepreneurial journey, she highlighted persistence and the courage to act despite uncertainty as important qualities for aspiring leaders.

Dr Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, urged participants to recognise their leadership potential in their homes, schools and communities. She noted that academic excellence must be complemented by courage, integrity and a commitment to truth, encouraging the girls to remain authentic and pursue their ambitions regardless of their backgrounds or financial circumstances.

Similarly, Ellen Hahne, Head of Political and Trade Affairs at the Swedish Embassy in Abuja, affirmed that girls were already demonstrating leadership through their contributions to schools and communities. She urged them to use their voices to influence positive change and create opportunities for others, reaffirming Sweden’s commitment to gender equality.

Participants also contributed to the conversations, reinforcing the importance of self-belief, equal opportunities and the right of every girl to be heard. Eleora Aderemi encouraged girls not to allow their gender to limit their ambitions, while Perfecta Silas called on them to speak up for their rights, particularly their right to education, and demand to be treated with dignity and respect.

Beyond the leadership discussions, the Assembly featured spoken-word performances and a panel session titled “Rights and Advocacy: My Rights, My Voice, My Future,” providing a platform for conversations about girls’ rights, self-expression and meaningful participation in decisions affecting their lives.

The gathering also reflected the broader importance of adolescent girls’ health and wellbeing, including access to reproductive health information, menstrual education and guidance on making informed, healthy choices. These issues remain essential to ensuring that girls can navigate adolescence with the knowledge and support necessary for their development.

The Assembly welcomed participants from Zambia and The Gambia in person, while participants from Kenya and Tanzania joined virtually, demonstrating the initiative’s potential to expand into a wider continental platform for girls’ empowerment.

The event was convened by the Educate a Woman Initiative in partnership with AchieveHer, Kora 360 and Gustovate Impact, with support from the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, CARE International, Girl Effect, Kros Foundation and other partners.

As conversations around girls’ rights and gender equality continue across the continent, the African Girls’ Assembly underscored the need to move beyond calls for empowerment towards sustained investment in girls’ education, wellbeing, confidence and leadership potential.

Its central message was clear: girls must be given the knowledge, opportunities and support to speak up, advocate for their rights and actively shape their futures. By investing in girls today, communities can help prepare a generation of informed, confident and transformational leaders.