As 2026 progresses, the Leadership Foundation for African Girl Child and Women continues its commitment to empowering girls, supporting women, and creating opportunities for underserved communities. Through leadership development, education, advocacy, and community outreach, we remain dedicated to building a future where every girl has the opportunity to learn, lead, and thrive.
Here are some of the impactful initiatives we have undertaken so far this year.
African Girl Child Leadership Conference – South-East Nigeria
June 16, 2026 | Day of the African Child
On June 16, 2026, in commemoration of the Day of the African Child, the Leadership Foundation for African Girl Child and Women organised the African Girl Child Leadership Conference for girls from the five South-Eastern states of Nigeria.
The conference was organised to provide girls with valuable opportunities for learning, exposure, and leadership development. We invited 2,000 girls to participate. However, due to security concerns affecting travel, some secondary schools were unable to attend, despite security arrangements at the venue. Some participants who attended were accompanied by security teams assigned by their respective states.
In our commitment to inclusivity, we used funds provided by our sponsors and donors to cover participants’ transportation costs, helping to reduce financial barriers to attendance.
For many students from local community secondary schools, the conference was an especially meaningful experience. Their enthusiasm, questions, and reflections revealed how valuable the opportunity was, with some experiencing their first visit to the city and their first conference.
For our Executive Director, Viola Okoro, the conference represented the fulfilment of a long-held dream shaped by her childhood experiences.
Growing up in a village during her father’s retirement, Viola experienced firsthand some of the challenges faced by children in underserved communities. Her early school years left lasting memories of educational limitations, missed classes, and the difficult conditions under which children were sometimes expected to learn.
One particularly vivid memory involved a flooded river. After taking a narrow path and crossing a broken bamboo bridge following heavy rainfall, Viola and other children fell into the river. Although they managed to swim out, they witnessed another girl being swept away by the current before someone bravely jumped in to rescue her.
These experiences stayed with her and strengthened her understanding of the challenges children can face when adequate support, supervision, and opportunities are lacking.
Years later, seeing girls from community secondary schools attend the leadership conference, ask questions, and embrace the opportunity to learn brought a deep sense of fulfilment. It was a reminder of why reaching underserved girls matters and why access to opportunities should not be limited by where a child grows up.
The conference also affirmed the importance of ensuring that support from donors and sponsors reaches the intended beneficiaries.
The Leadership Foundation for African Girl Child and Women is grateful to the organisations, individuals, sponsors, and donors whose support helped make this inclusive conference possible.
We also appreciate the participating schools, students, and everyone who contributed to the success of the event.
As we continue our work, we remain committed to creating opportunities for African girls to develop their confidence, expand their horizons, and become leaders in their communities.
International Day of the Girl Child Celebration
October 11, 2026 | Ending Child Marriage and Investing in Girl’s Right
The Leadership Foundation for African Girl Child and Women joined the global celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child in October 2026, reaffirming our commitment to protecting girls’ rights and supporting their education and leadership development.
Our message to girls everywhere was clear: even when faced with obstacles, continue to speak up. Every girl has the right to express herself, pursue her education, and reject child marriage.
We believe that every girl deserves to grow up in an environment where her voice is heard, her choices are respected, and her aspirations are encouraged. Through our ongoing programmes and advocacy, we continue to champion a future in which girls can access education, participate in decision-making, and realise their full potential.
We extend our sincere appreciation to Mrs. Okeke Stella for her generous donation of a cake to support our annual celebration of this important day.
Her kindness helped make the occasion special, and we are grateful for the continued support of individuals who share our vision for African girls and women.
Continuing Our Commitment to Girls and Women
For 12 years, the Leadership Foundation for African Girl Child and Women has worked to support African girls through conferences and publications, while empowering low-income women through training and revolving funds.
Our work is driven by the belief that education, leadership opportunities, and economic empowerment can help transform lives and strengthen communities.
We sincerely thank our donors, volunteers, partners, and friends of the foundation for their continued trust and support.
We welcome collaborations with organisations and individuals who share our commitment to advancing the rights, education, leadership, and wellbeing of African girls and women.
Together, let us continue to empower girls, uplift women, and create lasting change.