The Rena Development Initiative has organised a leadership and empowerment programme for one hundred girls from Senior Secondary Schools (SSS) in the FCT.
The conference tagged: ” Rena ShootUp Conference” is the second edition and it focused on public speaking as a tool for self-advocacy.
They urged participants to use their voices to challenge social barriers, build confidence, and prepare for leadership roles.
Convener of the conference, Ruth Onoshiorena Obozeghie, said the initiative was created to “build a generation of girls who are fearless, vocal, and visionary.”
“We’re raising girls who understand that leadership starts with expression. Public speaking is more than a skill. It’s empowerment in action.
“This year, we intentionally brought together girls with and without disabilities, because inclusion is about equal opportunity, not sympathy. Every girl should have access to confidence-building spaces like this,” she said.
The gender advocate, youth policy expert, and DG of the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, Rinsola Abiola, underscored the importance of nurturing girls’ leadership potential early.
She said the initiatives like the Rena ShootUp Conference are crucial to nation-building.
“They create confidence in girls, and confidence births competence,” she said.
Also speaking, the founder of the Albino Foundation, Dr. Jake Epelle, encouraged the girls to pursue their dreams without limitation, adding that disability does not define their destiny.
He said what Rena is doing today proves that inclusion is not a favour, it is a right and commended the organisers for integrating diversity as a core component of the event.
Blueprint reports that the conference featured a Board of Mentors Panel for inter-generational conversation and to provide practical tips to navigate the experiences of the school girls.