The Alice Wanny Development Foundation (AWDF) has trained more than 500 girls in vocational and entrepreneurial skills to commemorate the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child.
The training, which focused on tiling, flooring, construction safety, and entrepreneurship, formed part of the foundation’s second-phase empowerment programme for girls and young people across the country.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AWDF, Ms. Owan Ada, also launched a scholarship scheme and a book titled “From Gloominess to Strength” during the event in Abuja.
Owan said the book was inspired by her mother’s experience.
“My mother was denied education, not because of poverty, but because she was a girl. Her dream of becoming a nurse was shattered,” she said.
She noted that the denial of education for girls often leads to broader social challenges.
“We are all aware of the consequences—gender-based violence, child exploitation, drug abuse, and kidnapping,” she added.
According to UNESCO, more than 7.6 million girls are currently out of school in Nigeria, while over 34 million girls remain out of school across sub-Saharan Africa.
Owan said the statistics inspired the establishment of the Pan-African Women Leadership Academy (PAWLA), a new initiative aimed at providing scholarships to children from underserved and vulnerable communities, including orphans.
She disclosed that the foundation had already awarded scholarships to at least 20 children, beginning from her mother’s hometown in Cross River State and expanding to other parts of the country.
“The message of this year’s theme is clear—even in crisis, the light of the girl-child must never be dimmed,” Owan said.
She called for stronger partnerships with government agencies, international organizations, and other stakeholders.
“We can’t do this alone. We need more partners to join us in reaching more children,” she appealed.
The Director-General of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), Prof. Samson Duna, commended AWDF for its innovative approach to training girls in construction-related skills.
He said the foundation first introduced the initiative to NBRRI in 2023, leading to a collaboration on practical training in painting, POP design, tiling, and flooring.
“It’s uncommon to see girls trained in these areas. This year, we challenged them to construct an entire building—from foundation to roofing,” Duna said.
He described the challenge as a bold step toward promoting gender inclusion in a male-dominated industry.
“By next year, we hope to see a completed structure entirely built by these girls,” he added.
Also speaking, Mrs. Inna Binta Audu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Development Partners, emphasized the need for inclusive education and improved school infrastructure.
“Many girls stay home during their menstrual cycles because schools lack clean toilets. These silent crises must be addressed if we want girls to thrive,” she said.
Audu urged that advocacy efforts go beyond policy discussions to practical interventions at community and school levels.
“Girls must be raised not just to receive change, but to lead it,” she stated.
Some of the trainees shared their experiences.
One of the participants, Miracle Ochonu, said education remained vital for national development.
“Educating a girl is like educating a nation,” she said.
Another participant, Covenant Chukwu, described the training as an eye-opener.
“I learnt a lot during the two-day training. It helped me discover new career paths,” she said.
Highlights of the event included a dance competition and poetry recitations based on the theme “From Crisis to the Classroom”, which drew standing ovations from guests and participants.
Awards were also presented to individuals and organizations for their contributions to girls’ empowerment and inclusion.
The 2025 International Day of the Girl Child was commemorated globally under the theme “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead – Girls on the Frontline of Crisis.”
