Breaking Barriers: Pink Up for Girls campaign empowers young girls

The Women International (TWI) has concluded the 2025 edition of its flagship Pink Up for Girls Campaign, a nationwide and global initiative held in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child.

The campaign, themed “Breaking Stereotypes: One Girl at a Time,” reached over 3,000 girls through mentorship sessions, community outreaches, and the distribution of essential dignity kits, reaffirming the organization’s mission to empower girls and champion equality.

Since its inception in 2021, Pink Up for Girls has evolved into a global movement mobilizing individuals, communities, and organizations to wear pink in solidarity with girls, challenge limiting stereotypes, and take meaningful action on issues affecting their well-being. These include menstrual poverty, gender inequality, digital exclusion, and limited access to education and leadership opportunities.

The 2025 campaign recorded a significant impact through coordinated activities across Nigeria and beyond. School outreaches and empowerment sessions were held in Abuja on October 10 and in Lagos on October 11, alongside simultaneous activations in Enugu, Port Harcourt, Imo State, and international chapters in the United Kingdom, Europe, United States, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates.

Each location combined grassroots empowerment, mentorship, and nationwide solidarity to drive lasting change.

The Lagos event, held at Lagos City College, Yaba, featured an inspiring lineup of facilitators and mentors who engaged the girls through interactive and life-enriching sessions.

The program opened with a welcome address by Bukola Maiye, Chief Executive Officer of The Women International, read on her behalf by Mrs. Datari Ladejo, Lagos Chapter Leader of The Women International. The energy in the room soared as Ifeyinwa Nwakwesi encouraged the girls to embrace their individuality and believe in their potential.

The mentorship conversations covered crucial topics such as menstrual hygiene and self-care with Onyeka Iroha, self-confidence with Mariam Timmer, financial literacy with Union Bank’s Aderonke Chukwudeme, leadership with Itohan Barlow, personal branding with Dr. Yetty Ogunnubi, and the power of words with Olajumoke Adekanmi.

Datari Ladejo also led a session on digital inclusion and announced a special sponsorship from Digital Women Africa to enhance the girls’ access to technology and digital learning resources.

The event concluded with the distribution of dignity kits and care packages, ensuring that participants left with both knowledge and tangible resources to support their growth.

The 2025 campaign was endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development under the leadership of the Minister, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim. Her support underscored the Ministry’s commitment to advancing gender inclusion and improving opportunities for women and girls across Nigeria.

The success of the campaign was made possible through the partnership of corporate and institutional supporters, including Providus Bank, Union Bank, Save the Children, Unicaf, Digital Women Africa, FDGS Energy Group, Sweet Sensation, Amali Cosmetics, Ajoba Development Foundation, The R.E.A.C.H Organization Foundation, Noella Foundation, YD Company, and the Office of the First Lady of Imo State.

Reflecting on the events in Abuja and Lagos, Bukola Maiye, Chief Executive Officer of The Women International, described the sessions as a reaffirmation of the organization’s purpose. “The energy and curiosity we witnessed from the girls in Abuja and Lagos remind us why this work is so important. Pink Up for Girls is more than a campaign; it is a movement that opens doors of possibility and helps every girl see that her dreams are within reach,” she said.

Chinny Okoye, Founder of The Women International and Convener of Pink Up for Girls, also expressed gratitude for the strong turnout across the two cities. “Seeing the excitement, engagement, and confidence radiating from the girls in Abuja and Lagos was deeply fulfilling. It shows that when girls are given the right tools, guidance, and support, they can rise above any limitation. This is what Pink Up for Girls stands for,” she noted.

With thousands of girls directly impacted and many more reached through digital engagement and international activations, Pink Up for Girls 2025 reaffirmed The Women International’s commitment to building a world where every girl can thrive with confidence, dignity, and equal opportunity.