International Day of the Girl: Ibadan Wives And Mum Celebrates with Pad Donation To School girls
By Adewale Owoade
Ibadan Wives And Mum (IBWNM), a non‑governmental organisation focused on women’s well‑being, celebrated the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child by distributing 1,000 sanitary towels to girls of St Louis Grammar School, Mokola.
The event, held on October 11, marked this year’s theme “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontline of Crisis.”
Mrs. Adeshewa Ogunyemi, representing IBWNM President Mrs. Opeoluwa Ike, told the students that the world honours girls because they are strong, brilliant and full of promise.
She reminded the girls that every celebrated woman was once a curious, hopeful girl who learned to believe in herself.
“You see, every great woman the world celebrates today was once a girl like you curious, hopeful, and sometimes unsure.
“But she learned to believe in herself. She discovered that being a girl is not a weakness it’s a superpower. Girls are the heartbeat of every community.
“When a girl is educated, her entire family rises.When a girl is confident, her community grows stronger.When a girl takes the lead, the world changes for the better.
“‘The girl I am’ means knowing who you are; ‘the change I lead’ means using that strength to make a difference,” Ogunyemi said.
Acknowledging the challenges girls face in limited opportunities, early marriage, period shame, she affirmed, “You can learn, you can lead, you can speak up, you can make an impact.”
Ogunyemi encouraged the students to view menstruation as a sign of strength, not shame.
“Taking care of yourself is important. Stay clean, stay healthy, stay confident. Your dreams, whether doctor, engineer, artist or leader, are valid.”
She urged the girls to start creating change now: “Help friends, speak kindly, study hard, stand up for what’s right. You’re strong, you’re smart, you’re enough. You are the hope the world is waiting for.
“Go out there, shine bright, and let the world feel the power of the girl you are and the change you can make,” she said.
