By Mephy James
In its bid to empower and amplify the voices of young girls regardless of background, circumstance, or trauma, a nonprofit organisation, What About Her Foundation in partnership with Feed The Kids has organised a public speaking competition, bringing together students from three public secondary schools in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Participants had a public speaking competition on the topic “Can women and tradition truly coexist?”
The schools’ public speaking competition created a platform for critical thinking, confidence building, and civic engagement among young girls.
According to the Founder of What About Her Foundation, Ajala Serere, the programme “She Roars” was organized in response to a long standing societal ideology that women should be seen and not heard stressing that the belief is not only outdated but deeply harmful.
In her words: “Women’s voices matter in private spaces and public spaces alike, especially where decisions are made and ideas are shared. Women’s thoughts, lived experiences, and perspectives bring depth, insight, and solutions that society can no longer afford to ignore”
She disclosed further: “The programme emphasized that girls’ ideas carry weight, their experiences have value, and their perspectives are powerful enough to inspire change. It served as a reminder that when young women are given the space to express themselves, they can shape the world around them”.
On how she chose her foundation’s name which is unique, Ajala revealed that “What About Her?” was intentionally framed as a question, a challenge, and a call to action adding that it reminds society that every girl ’s dreams, dignity, and rights matter and must be prioritised, protected, and respected.
Speaking on the impact of the programme, the Literary Teacher of St. Anthony Secondary School, Ilorin where the programme was held, Mrs. Adewole, commended the organisers, saying: “Thank God for the success of the programme, you did excellently well.”
Some participants who spoke with Green Savannah Diplomatic Cable also commended Ajala Serere and her foundation for the exposure and knowledge gained through She Roars Programme.
Participants at the public speaking competition were drawn from Fate Basin Secondary School, Government Day Secondary School Fate, and St. Anthony Secondary School, all in Ilorin.
Through the She Roars Programme, over 100 students were directly impacted. The initiative also addressed key Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by feeding all students present, SDG 4 (Quality Education) through debate and public speaking, SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by amplifying girls’ voices, SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by centering public school students, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through collaboration.
Feed The Kids’ support helped ensure the welfare of participants and contributed to the overall success of the event.
The She Roars Programme stands as a bold declaration that girls deserve to be heard, valued, and empowered and that when they speak, society must listen.
