The Adunni Save A Girl Foundation has successfully launched its first-ever Girl Child Summit in Lagos, marking a significant step towards empowering the next generation of female leaders. The event, held on 2 December 2025, brought together students, educators, and advocates under the powerful theme 'The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead'.
Moving from Aspiration to Tangible Empowerment
Founder Comfort Olafare set the tone for the summit, explaining that the foundation's core mission is to move beyond mere dreams to concrete action. She emphasized that the goal is to nurture girls for self-actualisation, helping them identify and hone their inherent strengths. "Their gender is not a limitation but a need for them to do better and get better," Olafare stated. A critical part of this empowerment, she highlighted, is comprehensive hygiene education, informed by the foundation's own recent research conducted in schools within the Ikorodu area of Lagos.
Key Insights from Speakers and Partners
The summit featured powerful messages from a range of speakers and enjoyed support from corporate partners. Soft Care contributed by delivering practical training in life-saving skills like cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Guest speaker Olufemi Ojo drilled down on the power of self-perception, stating that "how you see yourself shapes your life." He argued that even perceived flaws can help define one's purpose and called for greater investment in girl-child initiatives from both government and community stakeholders.
Executive Secretary Taiwo Ojo advised attendees to blend academic learning with the cultivation of their innate talents. He encouraged seeking mentorship and studying the paths of accomplished Nigerian women like Dora Akunyili, Professor Grace Alele Williams, and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. "Don't forget your dream, your leadership attitude starts from here," he urged the young participants.
Another speaker, Ifeoluwa Johnson, underscored the vital role of community and external mentorship in child development. She expressed gratitude for the foundation's work, noting, "I have seen the importance of external people helping you train the children. I'm grateful this great thing is happening."
A Foundation for Future Leadership
This inaugural summit represents the Adunni Save A Girl Foundation's flagship effort to systematically build leadership, self-awareness, and practical skills among young Nigerian women. By addressing both internal mindsets and external, actionable skills—from menstrual hygiene to CPR—the event provided a holistic blueprint for empowerment. The call from all speakers was clear: investing in the girl child is an indispensable investment in the nation's future.
