The Alice Wanny Development Foundation (AWDF) has trained over 500 girls in vocational and entrepreneurial skills to mark the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child.
The training focused on tiling, flooring techniques, construction safety, and entrepreneurship. It formed part of AWDF’s second-phase empowerment programme for girls and youth across Nigeria.
Ms Owan Alice Ada, Founder and CEO of AWDF, also launched a scholarship scheme and a book titled From Gloominess to Strength during the event in Abuja.
She said the book was inspired by her mother’s story.
“My mother was denied education, not because of poverty, but because she was a girl,” she said.
“Her dream of becoming a nurse was shattered.”
She said such denial leads to broader social problems.
“We are all aware of the consequences—gender-based violence, child exploitation, drug abuse, and kidnapping,” she said.
According to UNESCO, over 7.6 million girls are currently out of school in Nigeria. Across sub-Saharan Africa, the number exceeds 34 million.
Owan said this motivated the launch of a new initiative—the Pan-African Women Leadership Academy (PAWLA).
The programme aims to offer scholarships to children from underserved and vulnerable communities, including orphans.
She said the foundation has already awarded scholarships to no fewer than 20 children, starting from her mother’s hometown in Cross River and expanding to other states and the FCT.
“The message of this year’s theme is clear—even in crisis, the light of the girl-child must never be dimmed,” she said.
She called for collaboration from governments, international agencies, and other partners.
“We can’t do this alone. We need more stakeholders to join us in reaching more children,” she said.
Also speaking, Prof. Samson Duna, Director-General of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), praised AWDF’s innovative training of girls in construction skills.
He said AWDF introduced NBRRI to the idea in 2023. The institute has since partnered with the foundation to deliver training in painting, POP, tiling, and flooring.
“It’s uncommon to see girls trained in these areas,” Duna said.
“This year, we challenged them to construct an entire building—from foundation to roofing.”
He described the challenge as a bold step toward gender inclusion in a male-dominated industry.
“We believe that by next year, we will see a completed structure entirely built by these girls,” he said.
Duna said the initiative was more than training. It was a movement to change mindsets and break gender stereotypes.
Mrs Inna Binta Audu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Development Partners, also spoke at the event.
She emphasized the need for inclusive education and basic infrastructure in schools.
“Many girls stay home during their menstrual cycles because schools lack clean toilets,” she said.
“These silent crises must be addressed if we want girls to thrive.”
She said advocacy must go beyond policies and include practical solutions in communities and schools.
“Girls must be raised not just to receive change, but to lead it,” she said.
Students who participated in the training shared their experiences.
Miracle Ochonu, one of the participants, said education was crucial for national development.
“Educating a girl is like educating a nation,” she said.
Covenant Chukwu described the training as an eye-opener. She said it helped her discover new career paths.
“I learnt a lot during the two-day training,” she said.
There were other side attractions which added spice to the event as some students participated in a highly contested dance competition, while others performed brilliant and thought-provoking poetic recitations based on the theme “From Crisis to the Classroom” which drew loud standing ovations from invited guests and participants present at the event.
Awards were also presented to individuals and organizations for outstanding contributions to girls’ empowerment and inclusion.
The 2025 International Day of the Girl Child was marked globally under the theme “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead – Girls on the Frontline of Crisis.” (NAN)