In a landmark commitment to gender equality and sustainable social transformation, Anambra youths took a major step towards promoting gender equality and sustainable social transformation over the weekend, hosting the first-ever youth-led International Women’s Day (IWD) commemoration.
The theme, “Character: Protecting and Promoting Womanhood for Sustainable Community Progress,” highlighted the urgency of addressing gender-based violence (GBV) and fostering youth-led advocacy for social change.
The program commenced with a Neurohealth sensitization session facilitated by the Neuro G Foundation in collaboration with the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN).
Experts, including Dr. Uchechukwu Nkem, Dr. Ofojebe Adaobi, and Ogochukwu Okpala, a 500-level medical student at UNIZIK, emphasized the importance of mental health awareness, identifying stressors, and fostering emotional intelligence, particularly among young boys.
A panel discussion on women’s leadership across several sectors, inspired by the global theme “Accelerating Action,” featured prominent female professionals.
They highlighted barriers to women’s empowerment while encouraging resilience, leadership, and self-advocacy to reduce vulnerabilities to GBV.
In a paper presentation on marriage instability, Lady Vera Onyenwe (Life Member, CWO President, Awka Diocese) advised young women to prioritize self-preservation over societal pressures to marry, advocating for informed and healthy relationship choices.
Commending the organizers for utilizing the 2025 International Women’s Day as a platform to introduce personal development and capacity-building initiative for Anambra youths, the Coordinator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the State, Ms. Wetalu Okosi, announced that the UNDP Makers Space at the Kenneth Dike Library, Awka, will officially open in June 2025, providing a hub for young people to explore and unleash their creativity.
Earlier, in her welcome address, Mrs. Chinwe Nweke, CEO and Managing Consultant of IDK Learning Centre, emphasized the urgency of character reformation among youths as a foundation for a progressive society.
She described the event as a collaborative initiative between IDK Learning Centre and The Light TV Show with Ify Aronu-Okafor, reaffirming her commitment to youth engagement programs for employability and value re-orientation.
Speaking on the vision behind the initiative, Ify Aronu-Okafor, the event convener and Nigeria’s Champion of the UN Summit of the Future, noted that the celebration aimed to increase youth involvement in combating GBV.
She referenced the recent horrific incidents of women being burned to death in Anambra State, stressing the need for resilience building and imbibing social love to counteract inherited social trauma and injustice.
“We are the architects of our future. We must not let trauma shape us into oppressors or bystanders. Instead, let us heal, rise, and rebuild our communities with the power of social love,” she urged.
We appreciate the event sponsors and partners: NeuroG Foundation, The Anambra State Health Insurance Agency, and the Doctor Chinedu Umeadi Foundation.
She called on philanthropists and organizations operating within and outside the state to sponsor the novel qualitative youth development initiative as strategic support for the ongoing fight against insecurity in Anambra State by the government of Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo.
The hybrid event, attended physically by over 150 youth representatives from the coalition of Anambra youth groups, women groups, and the public and over 200 virtual participants, took place at IDK Learning Centre, Awka, Anambra State.
