Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan urges girls to reject shame and embrace boldness as she marks International Day of the Girl Child with a mentorship event
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has spoken out against the longstanding cultural norms that condition girls and women to suffer in silence, calling instead for a generation of bold, fearless female leaders unafraid to challenge injustice.
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Speaking in Abuja on Sunday during a mentorship event marking the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child, the Kogi Central senator told an audience of young women that self-discovery is the first step to meaningful change.
“Society defines and shapes us from childhood,” said Akpoti-Uduaghan. “We’re rarely given the chance to think for ourselves. But before you chase your dreams, you must first understand who you are — the girl you are.”
She criticised the widespread cultural conditioning that teaches women to absorb shame and blame, saying: “Women have been raised to take the shame, wear the blame, and zip their mouths shut. But that ends with us.”
The interactive event, titled “An Evening with Senator Natasha”, carried the global theme “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontlines of Crisis” and welcomed over 50 young women from across Nigeria.
It was an evening of candid storytelling, reflection, and empowerment — a rare space for Nigerian girls to speak freely and be heard.
Joining the session was Yakubu Oyiza Hope, an anti-human trafficking advocate who shared her personal journey of survival and triumph through abduction and violence.
Her story left many visibly moved, reinforcing the session’s call for courage in the face of adversity.
Akpoti-Uduaghan said her work in the Senate is only one dimension of her broader mission — to spark visible transformation in marginalised communities and inspire young girls to challenge the status quo.
The lawmaker’s powerful message came on the heels of her dramatic return to the National Assembly on October 7, following a six-month suspension widely criticised as unjust.
Suspended in March for protesting the reassignment of her seat and removal of her nameplate — actions she called an attempt to “silence” her — Akpoti-Uduaghan fought a legal battle that ended in her favour.
Although the Senate initially defied the court’s ruling, her office was eventually reopened in late September.
Her re-entry to the chamber, flanked by a small group of colleagues, was a symbol of resilience — not just for herself, but for many Nigerian women facing institutional silencing.
Several attendees at Sunday’s event called for a formal mentorship programme to continue the impact, while Akpoti-Uduaghan promised more initiatives aimed at leadership, awareness, and confidence-building among young women.
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“We must find the courage to be bold, audacious, and fearless,” she said. “Only then can we break the barriers and climb the mountains that have been put in our way for far too long.”
