WGHEN, BASEI Advocate For Mental Health, Educational Empowerment For Girls
The Back to School Educational Initiative (BASEI) in partnership with Women and Girls Health Empowerment Network (WGHEN), has called for stronger efforts to empower girls through mental health support and education to build their resilience in transforming their communities.
They made the call during an advocacy on Sunday to commemorate the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child, held under the global theme: “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontlines of Crisis”.
It brought together adolescent girls, educators, community leaders, and advocates to discuss empowering girls through mental health support and education.
The Executive Director of WGHEN, whose message is titled “Let’s Talk About Mental Health,” said mental health is necessary in transforming communities and building resilience in times of crisis.
Ms Umar, therefore, said girls should learn to find their voices and ask for help when necessary so as to effectively handle life outcomes.
“I am truly honored to speak with you—not as an expert, but as a sister, a mother, a daughter—just like many of you.
“Today, we talk about something that touches all of us: mental health. It’s about how you think, how you feel, and how you handle life,” the Executive Director of WGHEN said.
She highlighted the unique mental health challenges women and girls face due to societal expectations, family pressures, and limited access to psychosocial support, and encouraged participants, especially girls, to prioritize self-care and emotional wellbeing.
“We are taught to stay strong and silent, but strength is not silence. True strength is knowing when to pause, breathe, and ask for help.”
She emphasized that mental health is a shared human need, not a sign of weakness.
“You have taken care of others for so long. Now it’s time to take care of yourself, too. Start small. Talk. Rest. Breathe. Love yourself,” she told the girls at the event.
Other participants also agreed to the need to normalize conversations about mental wellbeing in homes, schools, and communities.
In his contribution, BASEI Rise Up Youth Leader, Mr. Ahmadu Shettima said educating the girl child is building the future.
Shettima, who represented the youth arm of the Back to School Educational Initiative, spoke on the role of education in empowering girls, stressing that education remains the strongest tool for gender equality and sustainable development.
“When we educate a girl, we educate a generation. Education is more than reading and writing—it’s freedom, it’s voice, it’s leadership,” he added.
He noted that millions of girls in Nigeria still face barriers such as poverty, early marriage, and insecurity that are preventing them from reaching their full potential.
In this respect, Shettima called for collaborative action from government, families, and civil society to ensure no girl is left behind.
“Girls are not asking for privilege. They are asking for opportunity—the chance to learn, lead, and thrive.”
In her closing remarks, Ms. Firdausi Abdulmumin reaffirmed BASEI’s commitment to advancing girls’ rights and wellbeing.
“Our girls are not victims; they are visionaries. When we invest in their education, health, and mental wellness, we invest in the future of our nation.
The event concluded with songs, poetry, and the collective pledge: ‘Every girl counts. Every girl deserves a chance’.
It also featured panel discussion on girls’ mental health and access to quality education, story telling sessions from adolescent girls on overcoming barriers to education, and a mental wellness workshop facilitated by WGHEN psychologists.
There was also the official launch of the “HerMindMatters” campaign, promoting girl-centered mental health awareness in schools and communities.
