As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark the International Day of the Girl Child, the Young Communicators Initiative (YCI) launched the Vision 2035 AI-Athon in Abuja. The event served as an inter-school digital leadHERship summit and speech contest designed to nurture young female leaders for an AI-driven future.

The summit, themed “Effective LeadHERship in a Digital Age for National Development,” brought together schoolgirls from both public and private schools to enhance their leadership capacity and digital literacy skills. It aimed to encourage young girls to embrace technology as a tool for development and leadership growth in Nigeria.

Representing the Deputy Commissioner of the British High Commission, Senior Programme Manager Ms Na’anchin Muhammad described investing in girls as a direct investment in the nation’s progress. “For us, investing in girls is investing in Nigeria’s development. Technology opens opportunities to contribute to nation-building,” she said.

She encouraged the participants to aim higher and be open to possibilities in the digital space. “We have so many goals, that there’s a national plan, there are the SDGs, you know, and other things, and this particular event, especially the AI and digital space, I believe it’s an opportunity to just open the minds of these girls, and help them to see what they can do, to contribute to the national development of Nigeria. So, it’s really great,” she added.

Dr Chikodi Onyemerela, Director of Programmes and Chairman of the Board, British Council Nigeria, described the YCI summit as “a winning model by an indigenous NGO.” He called for stronger collaboration between government and civil society to increase its reach. “This is a very interesting model, harvesting young girls who are prefects in their respective schools. Because they have been charged with leadership responsibilities early, chances are that they will be leaders at the university level, at NYSC, and even nationally.”

He further stressed the importance of corporate support for initiatives that promote girls’ leadership and development. “Being a girl doesn’t connote limitation. Anecdotally, girls lead better because the audacity to commit certain things is rare among them. I call for corporate support to NGOs of this nature. I don’t know how they are funding it, but I sense a genuine interest in developing the girl child,” he said.

Mrs Adesola Oyinloye-Ndu, Special Adviser to the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on Customer Centricity, encouraged confidence and equality in child upbringing. “I’m a mentor and anti-bullying advocate. Once you’re confident, the sky is the starting point. The girl child must believe she can do it,” she said.

Reflecting on education and determination, she added, “Education accessibility and affordability need rethinking, but determination matters most. We must bring back the values of ‘I can do it.’ Raise every child as a human being first; gender is secondary.”

Chinenye Priscilla Anaemena, Founder of YCI, explained that the Vision 2035 AI-Athon was conceived to bridge the gender gap in leadership and digital inclusion. “It’s high time our girls were prepared to bridge that gap. We’re not just training them; we’re facilitating learning in artificial intelligence,” she said.

She noted that the participants would go through mentorship after the summit to design and implement community projects. “They’ll conceptualise leadership frameworks and community development projects, like ‘Paint to Protect,’ which promotes pedestrian safety. We won’t put words in their mouths; these are their own ideas,” she stated.

On plans to expand the programme, Anaemena said, “This is the maiden edition. We’re collaborating with the FCT Secondary Education Board and UBEC to replicate it nationwide. We have participants from underserved areas because leadership opportunity shouldn’t be for the privileged few.”

She concluded her remarks with a passionate appeal: “Do not forget; train a woman, you train a nation. If we must move female representation from 4.3% to 15 or 20%, we must start with the girl child.”

Mrs Funmilayo Kayode, Director of Mobilisation and Sensitisation at the FCT Secondary Education Board, said that partnering with YCI reflects the agency’s dedication to empowering girls through education. “Knowledge is power. What these girls are getting here today can take them to greater heights,” she said.

Recalling her experience as a former school principal, she highlighted how girls often excel when given opportunities. “When we allowed democratic elections for prefects, 90% of class captains turned out to be girls. We encouraged them, and 80% of leadership positions were taken by girls. It shows what happens when they’re given a chance,” she explained.

However, she also noted the need to maintain balance in gender-focused programmes. “This focus on girls is yielding fruit, but boys too need support. Many come from single-mother homes, and we must balance our advocacy,” she cautioned.

Anuli Aniebo, Founder and Executive Director of Heir Women Hub, advised the girls to embrace inclusion and resilience while facing societal challenges. “While you do this for girls, remember — it’s for all of us. There are structural and systemic barriers, but don’t let them get to you,” she said.

She encouraged boldness and determination. “There is a place for you. Move from being uncomfortable. The world won’t give it to you because you’re a girl; you must show up and work hard. Intelligence is your best tool,” she advised.

On exploring opportunities in artificial intelligence, Aniebo added, “Push yourself past the limits of what this country provides. The AI era is yours. You can create the space and move it forward. The next global celebration could be yours.”

For the young participants, the summit was an eye-opening experience filled with motivation and empowerment.

Thirteen-year-old Oluwaoloni Gbadamosi from Nigerian Tulip International Colleges said, “It makes me feel seen as a girl child. Sometimes it’s hard dealing with stereotypes, but this programme shows me I’m not alone. I can do this.”

Halima Adeola Akanbi, 15, from Government Secondary School, Mabushi, shared a similar experience. “Most people think girls can’t do much, but this programme breaks barriers. It makes me feel I can do anything. AI helps me with schoolwork and assignments. This AI-thon is a big deal to me,” she said.

For Aisha Sadiq Yari, 15, from Fariah Academy, the event sparked creativity and ambition. “It empowers young girls like me in the AI world, and it helps us foresee our future, how it’s going to be, and how things are going to work out. I want to build an app for young girls like us, growing up,” she said.

She added, “It will help young girls like us be what we want to be, help us choose our future career paths because I’ve had a really bumpy journey choosing a career for myself, so I don’t want that to happen for other people growing up.”