From our news desk, Benin
The Edo State Government has pledged its full support for the South South Girls Rock 2026 movement, an initiative designed to empower young women, bridge mentorship gaps and create opportunities for girls across Nigeria’s South-South region.
From (L) Perm Sec. EMWASD, Mrs. Joy Ihensekhien, Project Coordinator, South South Girls Rock 2026 movement, JoJo Dominic and State Commissioner, EMWASD, Hon. Mrs. Eugenia Abdallah
The commitment was made at the official unveiling of the initiative at the Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Benin City, where government officials, women leaders, grassroots advocates, media practitioners and professionals from different sectors gathered to promote a common agenda for the advancement of the girl child.
In her keynote remarks, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Edo State, Hon Eugenia Abdallah said under the administration of Senator Monday Okpebholo, the government remained committed to creating an enabling environment where every girl could thrive without structural barriers.
She noted that access to education, digital skills, entrepreneurship, safety and leadership opportunities remained critical to positioning young women for meaningful participation in society.
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The Commissioner also called on accomplished women to deliberately create space for younger women through mentorship and visible career pathways.
Stressing, that talent was not lacking in the South-South, Hon Mrs. Abdallah addied that young women from the region deserved to be represented in decision-making spaces across different sectors.
The initiative, spearheaded by Empire TV, is focused on taking empowerment beyond financial assistance by addressing social vulnerabilities, providing career mentorship and amplifying the voices of girls whose experiences, particularly in rural communities, often go unnoticed.
Project Coordinator, JoJo Dominic, a former international supermodel, said the initiative was inspired by his personal journey and his desire to contribute to addressing systemic challenges confronting young women.
Reflecting on his international career, Dominic said returning home to contribute to the development of young women was a social responsibility.
He called for stronger grassroots engagement, sustained mentorship and collective advocacy rather than a reliance on short-term financial interventions.
Dominic also warned that young girls were increasingly exposed to peer pressure, social media influences and premature relationships without adequate guidance.
He therefore urged women in positions of influence to actively mentor the younger generation, noting that neglecting vulnerable girls could eventually create wider social problems.
He further called for an end to stereotypes about the South-South, insisting that women from the region could build confidence, leadership capacity and careers that meet national and international standards.
State Coordinator of Business Women of Influence, Renewed Hope Agenda, Irene Obazee, encouraged women to remain steadfast in their pursuit of success despite the challenges they may encounter.
Obazee said becoming a woman of influence in society requires hard work, resilience and the determination not to be deterred by setbacks.
In her presentation titled : “The Price of the Mic! Sacrifice, Struggle & Staying,” Creative Director of GoldPointMedia, Adesuwa Lato, highlighted the realities confronting women working in the media industry.
Drawing from her experience building her media company, Lato spoke about working long hours, chasing opportunities, producing content and overcoming the pressures that come with being a woman in a competitive industry.
She urged young women to understand that media was more than glamour and red-carpet appearances, stressing the importance of acquiring practical skills, building credibility and pursuing excellence.
Lato challenged young women to choose capacity-building over quick financial gains, pointing out that skills, consistency and professionalism provide a stronger foundation for long-term success.
She called on established women to mentor younger girls, pay women professionals fairly and encourage them to remain in the industry despite its challenges.
From (L) Perm Sec. EMWASD, Mrs. Joy Ihensekhien, Project Coordinator, South South Girls Rock 2026 movement, JoJo Dominic and State Commissioner, EMWASD, Hon. Mrs. Eugenia Abdallah
In her presentation, Nollywood actress and producer, Itohan Igbinidu focused on the strength and potential of single mothers, “The Power of the Single Mother: Self-Control, Strength & Empowerment.”
She said single motherhood should not be regarded as a failure or the end of a woman’s dreams, describing single mothers as women who often carry the responsibility of providing, nurturing and protecting their families while navigating difficult circumstances.
Igbinidu emphasized the importance of self-control, describing it as the ability to choose purpose over pressure, wisdom over impulse and the future over temporary gratification. She, however, stressed that empowerment must go beyond telling women to be strong, calling for access to education, financial independence, skills, support systems and safe spaces. She encouraged single mothers to see beyond their present circumstances and reminded stakeholders that empowering women strengthens families and communities.
Other distinguished women from various industries also shared experiences and messages of encouragement, urging young women to remain focused, pursue their dreams and develop the resilience required to overcome setbacks.
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Their contributions reinforced the central message of the event: that young women need not only financial assistance, but also mentorship, skills, networks and opportunities to become economically and socially independent.
The highpoint of the event was the official unveiling of South South Girls Rock 2026 by the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Eugenia Abdallah.
The event ended with a shared commitment among government representatives, media stakeholders, civil society actors and women leaders to take the South South Girls Rock 2026 agenda into communities, schools and markets across the region.
Through sustained mentorship, policy support, grassroots engagement and collaboration among stakeholders, the organisers said the movement would work towards ensuring that girls across the South-South are heard, supported and equipped to take their rightful place in society.
The unveiling marked the beginning of what stakeholders described as a collective movement to empower the South-South girl child and create pathways for a generation of young women who can lead, innovate and participate meaningfully in decision-making.
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