In commemoration of the 2025 International Day of the Girl-Child, the Heritage of Virtue: Global Girl-Child Mentorship & Exposure Initiative (GGMEI) — a project of NITO Sports Foundation for Women and Youth Empowerment — hosted a memorable celebration that combined mentorship, empowerment, and honor. The event uniquely coincided with the 85th birthday celebration of Senior Mother in Israel, Felicia Oyebamiji (JP), at Richbam Event Centre, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The day began with an enriching mentorship session at the National Museum, Aleshinloye, Ibadan, where the girls were warmly received by Mrs. Mosun Akinola, a renowned journalist and member of National Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ). Sharing her personal life journey, Mrs. Akinola spoke candidly about her humble beginnings, life challenges, tears, and triumphs, emphasizing the values of discipline, focus, prayer, and resilience.
She advised the girls to stay committed to their dreams and introduced them to creative side businesses that can support their educational pursuits. Her interactive mentorship session ended with the presentation of gifts and a group photograph, marking an inspiring start to the 2025 celebration.
While at the museum, Mrs. Temilade Aloko of Splash FM Radio engaged the girls in a reflective and enlightening discussion centered on the 2025 International Day of the Girl-Child theme, exploring how it relates to their personal growth, education, and aspirations as young women.
She particularly focused on menstrual health , a crucial aspect of every girl’s development that is often surrounded by myths, anxiety, and stigma. Mrs. Aloko spoke openly about the emotional and physical challenges associated with menstruation — such as mood changes, menstrual pain (cramps), fatigue, and the social discomfort that many girls experience, especially in public or school environments.
She highlighted how menstrual stigma continues to affect girls’ confidence and participation in education and extracurricular activities. Many young girls, she noted, still face embarrassment or isolation during their menstrual period due to inadequate knowledge, poor menstrual hygiene facilities, or lack of access to sanitary products.
Mrs. Aloko emphasized the importance of menstrual hygiene management (MHM) — teaching the girls about proper care during their periods, including the use of clean sanitary pads, frequent changing, personal hygiene, and safe disposal. She encouraged them never to feel ashamed of menstruation, describing it as a natural biological process and a sign of womanhood that should be treated with dignity and understanding.
To make the session interactive, she invited each girl to share her personal experience with menstruation — from their first period stories to how they manage pain, emotional stress, and social pressure during that time of the month. Their contributions revealed the varying challenges girls face, but also how awareness and education can help them manage the experience better.
At the end of the discussion, the girls expressed deep appreciation to Mrs. Aloko for addressing a topic that is often ignored or treated as taboo. They described the session as “liberating and educative”, confirming that they had learned practical lessons about menstrual care, self-confidence, and the importance of supporting one another as young women.
The second phase of the day’s event took place at Richbam Event Centre during the grand birthday celebration of Mama Felicia Oyebamiji (JP). There, the GGMEI girls met with representatives of SheNarrate TV, a media platform and NGO committed to promoting women’s voices and advancing the welfare of girls.
During their interaction, SheNarrate TV representatives shared words of motivation, distributed sanitary pads, and encouraged the girls to embrace their limitless potential. Four participants had the opportunity to speak about what the International Day of the Girl-Child meant to them. One of the girls confessed that it was her first time learning about the annual observance — a revelation that underscored the importance of awareness initiatives like GGMEI.
In response, SheNarrate TV pledged to continue amplifying the voices of young girls and women through storytelling, mentorship, and empowerment campaigns. “There is no limit to what a girl can achieve when she believes in her worth and purpose,” the platform’s representative said, urging the girls to pursue their dreams with confidence and courage.
While at Mama Felicia Oyebamiji’s birthday, the GGMEI girls attested to the importance of living a good life worthy of emulation by those around them and by younger generations.
“What we see here really serves as motivation, encouragement, and guidance to us,” one of the girls said. “Reading the joy on everyone’s faces, hearing the confessions and remarks about Grandma on this occasion of her 85th birthday show who Mama is and the kind of life she lived while she was young and still lives at her old age. We are happy for Grandma, Mama Felicia Oyebamiji, and we wish her many more years in perfect health and sufficient grace in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Two of the participants from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso — Miss Oluwatominiini Adeoye, a 400-level Biochemistry student, and Miss Anjola Adeniran, a 200-level student — described the day as “life-changing.” They were joined by Miss Wumi Agboola, who is awaiting university admission, and Miss Grace Ajide, a secondary school student, all of whom expressed gratitude for the rare opportunity to learn and interact with inspiring role models.
Although the girls could not meet with two of their project coordinators, Miss Dupe Fehintola (Deputy Director, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Ibadan Office) and Mrs. Ramat Alade (Head of Information, Ibadan Northwest Local Government Council), due to church engagements later that day, the visit has been rescheduled for the following week as part of the continuing mentorship series.
The Global Girl-Child Mentorship & Exposure Initiative (GGMEI) is dedicated to nurturing virtue, confidence, and purpose among young girls across Africa and beyond. By connecting them with women of influence across diverse professions, GGMEI helps bridge the gap between potential and opportunity — ensuring that every girl-child is inspired, informed, and empowered to become a virtuous leader in her generation.
Through partnerships with media platforms like SheNarrate TV, Splash F.M., Inquisitiores.com, Daily Independent, Pacesetters News and dedicated mentors like Mrs. Mosun Akinola, Miss Dupe Fehintola and Mrs. Ramat Alade, the initiative continues to expand its reach, giving every girl a chance to tell her story, build her confidence, and embrace her future with pride.
