Kogi Central lawmaker, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Saturday hosted an inspiring mentorship and interactive session with young women from across Nigeria in commemoration of the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child, urging them to embrace courage, self-awareness, and purposeful leadership.
The event, themed “An Evening with Senator Natasha,” drew from the global theme, “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontlines of Crisis.” It created an intimate platform for honest conversations, reflection, and empowerment, bringing together over fifty young women who shared stories, aspirations, and lessons from the senator’s personal and political journey.
In her keynote address, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan underscored the importance of self-discovery as the foundation for leadership and lasting change.
“It’s important to identify the girl that I am,” she said. “Many of us, especially girls, grow up without ever taking the time to understand who we truly are. Society defines us from childhood, leaving little room for self-reflection. Before you figure out your career or your purpose, you must first know who you are.”
She challenged young women to defy societal expectations that silence their voices and restrict their ambitions.
“Women have been raised to take the shame, wear the blame, and zip their mouths shut,” she declared. “But that ends with us. We must find the courage to be bold, audacious, and fearless — to break barriers and climb higher mountains.”
Senator Natasha added that her fulfillment in politics would only come when her efforts translate into real transformation for lives and communities once left behind.
The evening also featured personal testimonies from guest speakers, including Yakubu Oyiza Hope, an anti-human trafficking advocate who recounted her journey through abduction, banditry, and violence — experiences that shaped her mission to speak for victims and survivors.
Participants described the session as eye-opening and life-changing, praising the senator for her mentorship and sincerity. Many appealed to her to establish a structured mentorship initiative to sustain the empowerment and guidance gained from the event.
The evening ended on a high note with renewed optimism as attendees pledged to become change agents in their respective communities. Among the attendees were media professionals including Sadiyat Inoh Abah of AIT, who joined in celebrating the spirit of the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child.