forher Maiden Leadership Summit

forher Organization hosted its maiden leadership summit on Friday, March 3rd, 2023 in Uyo, Nigeria.

The conference held at Ibom e-library Uyo with the theme “Girls and Possibilities”, provided a platform for secondary school-aged girls to gain access to valuable insights and knowledge from accomplished speakers in various fields, designed to enable them to fully discover and maximize their potential.

In her remarks, the founder of forher, Remarkable Mary said the event is an annual leadership event that gathers experts and professionals to reshape secondary school girls towards their dreams.

She said the reason her target is secondary school girls from the age of 13 is because she believes that 13 is a very sensitive age in a girl’s life, as a lot begins to happen to them emotionally, biologically, and mentally.

According to Mary, life became more purposeful for her at the age of 13.

“I remember vividly I was 13 when I said to myself that I wanted to be useful and intentional. It was the age I decided to be careful about the friends I kept, the books I read and the places I went to. It was the age I decided to not just be useful to myself alone, but to my family and society at large. I hope every one of you leaves here inspired.”

The Founder of forher charged the girls to remain focused stressing that there is nothing that cannot be done when they set their minds on it and also rely on God.

Also speaking, a Certified Etiquette and Image Consultant, Sonye Allanah, who taught the girls etiquettes that bordered on daily living, dressing and self-confidence said elegance was not about being noticed but about being remembered.

Allanah explained that despite having poor grades in French at Secondary School, she went on to be fluent in French and German, became a career Diplomat and is currently a Public Speaker and Life Coach.

She added “It is fine to evaluate yourself from time to time but don’t demean your worth no matter how poor your actions were. Pat yourself at the back for every small feat you attend,” She advised.

On her part, the Executive Director of the Community Stakeholders for Social Good, and Founding Curator at Teens Network, Mmanti Umoh, noted that in many parts of the world, girls face discrimination, harassment, and violence simply because of their gender.

She condemned the practice of making girls grow with the notion that there are things they are limited to do.

While charging the girls to have role models and mentors, Umoh added ” Why mentorship is so important for girls is that mentorship is a relationship between a more experienced person (the mentor) and a less experienced person (the mentee).

“This is based on mutual trust, respect, and learning. Through mentorship, girls can gain valuable knowledge, skills, and guidance from someone who has walked the same path before them.”

Another speaker, Hamzat Lawal, an award-winning Nigerian activist and campaigner who has led campaigns in Climate Change, Open Data, advocacy campaigns and development policies as it affects rural and deprived grassroots communities spoke to the girls on the principles of decision-making, education, networking, integrity, self-determination and confidence. He encouraged them to defeat self-limitation and achieve the goals they have set for themselves.

Dr. Linus Okorie, a leadership development coach and the Founder/President of Guardians of the Nation International (GOTNI), utilised the KASH acronym (Knowledge, Attitude, Skills, Habit) to emphasize his presentation on “Becoming a Leader of Excellence.” His talk focused on key leadership attributes, including transparency, visibility, growth, self-reflection, and the cultivation of an entrepreneurial attitude. Dr. Okorie highlighted the importance of these characteristics in the development of young individuals into well-rounded adults, capable of achieving their goals and leading the next generation of revolutionaries.

Also speaking, the Member representing Etinan/Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Onofiok Luke, charged the gathering on the need to hold policymakers accountable.

Luke urged the audience to cultivate self-confidence, rather than rely on external validation, as a crucial element for personal growth and development.

In a related development, an essay competition was held where representatives from six secondary schools in Akwa Ibom state spoke on the topic, “Digital Generation, Our Generation”, in line with this year’s International Women’s Day Celebration theme “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.”

Nigerian Christian Institute (N.C.I.) emerged winners with Government Secondary Grammar School, Ikot Akpabio and Government Technical College, Abak coming in 2nd and 3rd with N150,000 cash prize for the winners, as well as N100,000 and N50,000 consolation prizes for the 2nd and 3rd-placed winners respectively.

The Summit had in attendance students from Dekis High School, Itu, Etinan Institute, Etinan, Joy Prime Schools, Uyo, Mary Hanney Secondary School, Oron, Mboho Unity School, Uruan, Government Model Girls Secondary School, Abak, and girls sponsored by Trade Union Congress and Land of Hope.

Meanwhile, the event also witnessed the inauguration of forher’s book, “Stories forher”, authored by the organization’s founder, Remarkable Mary. According to the author, the book, comprises of a collection of stories featuring the journeys of various female characters.

She said the book was crafted in a bid to inspire hope in the midst of uncertainty, and further forher’s mission to empower young girls through education, skills development, and access to valuable information, with the ultimate aim of transforming their lives.

The book was freely distributed to secondary school students present at the event, while other attendees were encouraged to procure copies for other young females.

The organisers of the event thanked Smefunds, Legislative Mentorship Initiative, and Guardians of the Nation International (GOTNI) for being the official sponsors of the event.