In celebration of the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child, the Alice Wanny Development Foundation (AWDF) has trained more than 500 young girls across Nigeria in hands-on vocational and entrepreneurial skills — a bold step toward creating a future where girls can build, lead, and innovate on their own terms.
The two-day empowerment event, held in Abuja, marked the second phase of AWDF’s national training initiative and focused on tiling, flooring, construction safety, and entrepreneurship — areas often dominated by men.
At the event, Ms. Owan Alice Ada, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AWDF, unveiled two major projects: a new scholarship scheme and her debut book, From Gloominess to Strength, which she said was inspired by her mother’s personal story.
“My mother was denied an education — not because the family was poor, but because she was a girl,” Owan shared. “Her dream of becoming a nurse was crushed, and her story became my motivation to ensure other girls never experience that kind of loss.”
Turning Personal Pain into Purpose
Owan reflected on how gender-based exclusion continues to affect societies, linking it to broader social issues such as child exploitation, violence, drug abuse, and kidnapping.
Recent UNESCO data underscores her concern: over 7.6 million girls in Nigeria remain out of school, and more than 34 million girls across sub-Saharan Africa are still denied education.
In response, AWDF has launched the Pan-African Women Leadership Academy (PAWLA) — a new initiative providing scholarships to children from underserved and vulnerable communities, including orphans.
So far, the foundation has awarded scholarships to 20 students, beginning in Cross River State, Owan’s maternal hometown, and plans to extend the support nationwide.
“The message of this year’s theme is simple,” she said. “Even in times of crisis, the light of the girl-child must never go out.”
Building Inclusion from the Ground Up
The Director-General of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), Prof. Samson Duna, praised AWDF for its trailblazing approach to gender inclusion in technical fields.
According to him, AWDF’s partnership with NBRRI began in 2023 and has since expanded to include hands-on workshops in painting, POP, tiling, and flooring.
“It’s rare to find young girls mastering these construction skills,” Duna said. “This year, we took it a step further by challenging them to construct a full building — from the foundation to the roofing.”
He described the initiative as a bold stride toward bridging gender gaps in a male-dominated sector.
“By next year, we hope to see a completed structure entirely built by these remarkable girls,” he added.
Beyond Policy: Creating Real Change
Mrs. Inna Binta Audu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Development Partners, highlighted the need for inclusive education and better school facilities.
“Many girls miss school during their menstrual periods simply because there are no clean toilets,” she noted. “These silent challenges must be addressed if we truly want girls to thrive.”
She emphasized that advocacy should go beyond policies and translate into direct community action.
“Girls should not only benefit from change — they should be empowered to lead it,” she said.
Voices of the Future
For many participants, the training was life-changing.
Miracle Ochonu, one of the beneficiaries, shared:
“Education is the foundation of every nation’s growth. When you educate a girl, you educate a community.”
Another participant, Covenant Chukwu, expressed gratitude for the exposure.
“I discovered new paths I never thought possible,” she said. “It opened my eyes to careers I didn’t know I could pursue.”
A Celebration of Talent and Hope
The event concluded with dance performances and poetry recitations inspired by the global theme, “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead – Girls on the Frontline of Crisis.” The performances drew standing ovations from guests and participants alike.
Outstanding individuals and partner organisations were also recognised with awards for their contributions to girls’ empowerment and inclusion.
Through its initiatives, the Alice Wanny Development Foundation continues to prove that empowering girls isn’t just about education — it’s about reshaping society’s foundation, one skill, one dream, and one girl at a time.
