As part of activities marking International Women’s Day 2025 #AccelerateAction, the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF) engaged students of Pace Setters Academy across its Gwarinpa, Wuye, and Guzape campuses in Abuja on March 18, 2025, in an open discussion on The Impact of Women and Girls’ Underrepresentation in Leadership and Governance. The session aimed to inspire young minds to challenge gender stereotypes, embrace leadership roles, and advocate for greater female representation in decision making spaces.
During the discussion, students explored the barriers that limit women’s participation in governance and leadership, as well as consequences of their underrepresentation. NWTF shared inspiring examples of female leaders who have broken barriers, such as Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Amina Mohammed, and Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, emphasizing the transformative impact of women in leadership across different sectors.
Through interactive engagement, students identified key leadership qualities, reflected on the importance of diverse perspectives in governance, and discussed actionable ways to encourage and support more girls to step into leadership positions. The discussion also shed light on societal norms, mentorship gaps, and economic challenges that hinder women’s leadership aspirations and how young people can play a role in fostering change.
As a follow-up engagement, NWTF participated in Pace Setters Academy’s event on March 20, 2025, which focused on raising awareness about human trafficking and its impact on young girls and society at large. The students creatively used performing arts to advocate against this growing societal challenge, delivering powerful stage performances that depicted the dangers of exploitation, forced labour, and the urgent need for collective action to protect vulnerable individuals.
This event emphasized the power of youth engagement, awareness, and advocacy in tackling pressing societal issues. NWTF commended the students for their innovative approach and encouraged them to continue using art, education, and activism to influence positive change.
I commend Senator Akpabio for his maturity, I have always known him as a man who values the female gender.
I also want to encourage the advocacy for women to be given special priority in contesting for political positions, more awareness needs to be created, it was not easy for me to emerge as the first female elected Councilor of my Ward at the age of 34 years, I was even rejected by fellow women, it took me extra energy and the intervention of the wife of ABIA State Governor to be able to emerge at the primaries, I had to spend extra in advocacy visit to women forums of my constituency to canvas for votes and get them to believe in my candidacy, I refused to be discouraged by major factors, if sponsored, I aim to go higher in my political aspiration.
We need to increase awareness on women supporting women campaign even as the supported women work hard to make a difference in the community in order to encourage voters.
I personally hope and desire to attract as much development as I can to my community.