Abuja: The African Girl Guide (AGG) has urged for increased investment in young women’s leadership, saying mentorship, strategic support, and opportunities are crucial to raising confident and ethical future female leaders. Dr. Jindu Elueze, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the AGG, made the remark while marking the International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026 in a virtual meeting on Tuesday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Elueze commended the IWD theme tagged ‘Give To Gain’, emphasizing that progress for women and girls requires deliberate actions and sustained support. “Giving mentorship produces confident leaders, while sharing knowledge helps young women become empowered decision-makers capable of contributing meaningfully to society and national development,” he said. He further highlighted that providing visibility and opportunities for women would improve representation and drive transformation across institutions, communities, and leadership spaces.
Elueze pointed out that the activation of 406 founding cohort members demonstrates a commitment to providing structure, support, access, and belief in the capacity of young women. The ‘406 Founding Cohort’ refers to the number of young female corps members enrolled in a special mentorship programme aimed at fostering ethical leadership, financial intelligence, and governance skills among young women. He noted that investing in young women multiplied integrity, leadership, innovation, and strengthened national development through a new generation of responsible leaders.
He described the ‘Give To Gain’ campaign as a global call to challenge stereotypes, question bias, amplify women’s voices, and promote knowledge sharing and solidarity. Elueze urged young women to embrace excellence, integrity, and leadership, adding that giving back to society would bring confidence, opportunity, and lasting impact. He stressed that “when women thrive, societies progress,” noting that empowering women remains vital to inclusive growth and sustainable development.
Hajia Mariam Shaibu, Deputy Director, Child Development, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, emphasized that women should be prioritized for stronger empowerment. Shaibu remarked that part of the ministry’s mandate was to promote women’s development, gender equality, and the welfare of children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. She added that the ministry remained committed to ensuring that its mandate was achieved. “The ministry is ready to partner with the AGG to strengthen and advance programmes that will support women, girls, and vulnerable groups; we look forward to hearing the voices and visions of the girl child,” she said. She commended the AGG for its efforts to ensure that the programme was successful.
Mrs. Aisha Nabeena, Assistant Director, Public Communication, National Orientation Agency, described the initiative as a platform for growth, courage, and transformation. Nabeena urged the participants to strengthen their voices, deepen their vision, and lead with confidence, adding that the journey ahead offers many opportunities for leadership, personal development, and positive impact. She encouraged the young leaders to pursue their goals boldly and support others in their progress while thanking the participants and organizers for their commitment to empowering young female leaders.