Lady Helen Obareki Urges Shift From Talk To Action On Girl Child Rights
The Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Akwa Ibom State, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, has called for a bold move from mere advocacy to concrete action in safeguarding and promoting the rights of the Girl Child in Nigeria.
Speaking on Thursday, 24 July 2025, at the Sam Momah Annual Lecture held at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Lady Obareki—represented by the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Hon. Emem Ibanga emphasised that real change can only come when society turns awareness into measurable action.
“Advocacy alone is not enough. We must move from awareness to action, from compassion to commitment, and from talk to transformation,” she stated firmly, noting that investing in the Girl Child is not an act of charity but a sustainable strategy for peace, progress, and prosperity.
Lady Obareki also highlighted key achievements made under the Office of the First Lady, including housing for over 800 orphans, the prosecution of over 200 child abuse cases, a ban on child hawking during school hours, and the establishment of a Children’s Parliament in all 31 LGAs of Akwa Ibom State.
The event, themed “The Girl Child: Building Stakeholders’ Buy-In”, also featured the commissioning of a Reading Room and Conference Centre by the First Lady Designate, in honour of the late General Sam Momah.
In her keynote address, Dr Grace Matemavi of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, urged stakeholders to provide mentorship, sponsorship, and coaching opportunities to young girls, helping them align passion with purpose.
Executive Secretary of the Sam Momah Foundation, Dr Tobe Momah, reiterated the foundation’s mission to promote reading culture across Nigeria and Africa, while recognising Lady Obareki for her outstanding contributions to Girl Child empowerment.
The day also featured prize presentations to winners of the Sam Momah Essay Competition, underlining a shared commitment to nurturing young minds for a better future.
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