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To commemorate the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC), the Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC) Kwara Office successfully hosted an inspiring one-day program aimed at empowering secondary school girls. Held in partnership with Sustainable Health Inclusive Education for Leadership & Development (SHIELD Nigeria), the event focused on empowering girls through knowledge, technology, innovation, and problem-solving.
Taking place on Wednesday, 14th October 2026, at Government Girls Day Secondary School, Pakata, Ilorin, the event rallied around the powerful theme: “End Child Marriage, Invest in Girls’ Rights”.
Setting the Stage for Empowerment
The program officially kicked off at 11:00 a.m., bringing together an enthusiastic audience of 120 secondary school girls. They were joined by two W.TEC staff members, a W.TEC instructor, and two facilitators from SHIELD Nigeria.
Following the national anthem and a warm welcome to the guests, Mrs. Kawthar Ibiyeye delivered the opening remarks. She introduced the event’s core theme, emphasizing its profound significance for the girls’ rights, future opportunities, and overall well-being.
An Inspiring Keynote Address
A major highlight of the day was the keynote address delivered by Miss Rahmah Mohammed, Project Assistant at SHIELD Nigeria. She immediately captured the girls’ attention by sharing a compelling story about a young girl who faced intense pressure to enter an early marriage and was discouraged from pursuing her education. With the vital support of a teacher, the girl in the story overcame these immense hurdles to complete her education and achieve her dream of becoming a doctor.
Miss Rahmah used this story to transition into a broader discussion on the meaning of rights, specifically highlighting girls’ fundamental rights to education, personal safety, and the opportunity to achieve their aspirations. She spoke candidly about the barriers girls face today, emphasizing the critical importance of positive role models and education. She concluded her impactful address by encouraging the girls to be confident, to speak up when necessary, and to recognize their immense potential to become leaders and meaningful contributors to society.
Interactive Engagement and Key Takeaways
The keynote was followed by a highly interactive question-and-answer session. The students participated actively, eagerly asking questions and sharing the key lessons they had absorbed from the presentation. This engagement served to reinforce the program’s core messages and encouraged deep reflection on girls’ empowerment.
(Note: While a mentorship breakout session was originally planned, organizers thoughtfully decided not to hold it due to time constraints from a delayed start, ensuring that the students’ regular school lessons were not disrupted beyond the necessary time.)
A High-Spirited Conclusion
In her closing remarks, Mrs. Kawthar charged the attendees to become ambassadors of change by transferring everything they had learned to other girls who were not privileged to attend the event.
The program concluded on an incredibly high note. Filled with excitement and newfound knowledge about challenging child marriage and investing in their potential, the 120 girls excitedly shouted a big thank you to W.TEC and SHIELD Nigeria, beautifully chorusing, “Happy International Day of the Girl Child!”.
Gallery
To view photos from the W.TEC 2026 International Day of the Girl Child event, click here: Event Photo Gallery*