FAME foundation empowers over 300 head girls in 11 Ibadan LGAs

THE FAME Foundation has empowered more than 300 head girls from secondary schools across 11 local government areas of Ibadan through a leadership conference aimed at strengthening girls’ participation in leadership and community development.

The initiative, known as the Ibadan Head Girl Conference 2026, was organised in Ibadan by the youth development-focused education nonprofit as part of activities marking the 2026 edition of International Women’s Day.

The conference brought together head girls from public and private secondary schools across Ibadan, equipping them with leadership skills, mentorship opportunities and practical knowledge to enhance their roles in school governance and prepare them for future leadership responsibilities.

Speaking at the event, Founder and Executive Director of the FAME Foundation, Raphael Stephen, said the initiative forms part of the organisation’s broader mission to nurture responsible leaders through early leadership exposure in secondary schools.

“At The FAME Foundation, we are on a mission to develop the leaders we wish we had through secondary education, and the Ibadan Head Girl Conference is a strategic part of that journey,” he said.

Stephen noted that studies show girls who assume leadership roles early in life are more likely to pursue executive and public leadership positions later in their careers.

READ ALSO: The mental health challenges we rarely talk about: A deep dive into paraphilic disorders

“When a young girl is entrusted with responsibility early, she develops the confidence, voice, problem-solving ability and decision-making skills that compound over decades,” he said, adding that the organisation has equipped more than 25,000 girls across over 500 secondary schools in Nigeria through its leadership programmes.

The conference, themed “Let Girls Thrive; Be Her Champion”, focused on strengthening investment in girls’ education as a pathway to unlocking leadership potential and building a more inclusive society.

Speakers at the conference included Chairman of the FAME Foundation Board of Trustees, Adesina Adegunle; Permanent Secretary of the Oyo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Bamidele Oyinloye; and Founding Director of the Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health at the University of Ibadan, Olayinka Olusola Omigbodun.

Others included Executive Director of Women in Management and Business and Public Service, Omowunmi Akingbohungbe, Principal of St. Louis Grammar School, Ibadan, Oyeyemi Shadare, as well as representatives of Airtel Nigeria and Starks Associates.

Participants engaged in leadership masterclasses, talk sessions, impromptu speeches and networking activities designed to strengthen their leadership capacity and critical thinking skills.

Cash prizes and gifts were also presented to outstanding participants and participating schools, sponsored by Starks Associates, the Nigerian Bottling Company and the FAME Foundation.

Commenting on the initiative, a representative of Starks Associates, Ayomide Omoyiola, described the conference as a strategic investment in early-stage leadership development.

“This is the third time Starks is co-sponsoring this strategic initiative. At Starks, we recognise that this is more than event sponsorship; it is an investment in early-stage leadership development,” he said.

Omoyiola added that empowering girls through education and leadership development remains critical to building a more prosperous and inclusive society.

Organisers noted that the conference forms part of ongoing efforts to expand leadership opportunities for girls in secondary schools while strengthening mentorship networks that can support their long-term growth and societal impact.