WEPBI Launches Pan-African Adolescent Girls Movement in Nigeria, Partners Graça Machel Trust to Empower Future Female Leaders

The Women Empowerment Education and Peace Building Initiative (WEPBI) has officially launched the Pan-African Adolescent Girls Movement in Nigeria, a flagship initiative of the Graça Machel Trust aimed at amplifying the voices and leadership of young girls across the continent.

The launch capped a three-day intensive workshop in Enugu, where 10 adolescent girls received training in public speaking, leadership, entrepreneurship, and other essential life-building skills. The newly trained ambassadors are expected to step into their communities and replicate the training for other girls, creating a ripple effect of empowerment.

Speaking at the launch, Joy Oguadimma, Executive Director of WEPBI, described the initiative as the beginning of a transformative era for girl-child leadership in Africa.

“This marks the birth of a movement that places the voices of adolescent girls at the centre of Africa’s future,” she said. “Through this partnership with the Graça Machel Trust, we aim to equip young girls with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead, innovate, and influence decisions that shape their lives and communities.”

Oguadimma added that the movement is designed to inspire a wave of leadership, resilience, and hope among young girls, ensuring that their dreams are not only protected but fully realised.

Also speaking, Dalree Lange, Programme Manager for the Graça Machel Trust, emphasized that the movement is anchored on the belief that every teenage girl deserves a safe space to learn, lead, and raise her voice.

“The Movement brings together young women, facilitators, and carefully selected implementing partners to give girls the skills, confidence, and support they need to become leaders and changemakers in their communities,” Lange said.

WEPBI, a women-led non-governmental organisation, continues to champion women’s leadership, peacebuilding, and inclusive development across Nigeria.