IWD 2026: Faith Morey reflects on courage, collective empowerment

As the global community prepares to mark International Women’s Day on March 8, a Nigerian television personality, philanthropist and entrepreneur, Faith Morey, has described the annual celebration as both a moment of recognition and a renewed call to advance gender equality around the world.

International Women’s Day, observed annually on March 8, celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women while also serving as a rallying point for accelerating gender equity and empowering future generations of women to thrive without limitations.

Reflecting on the significance of the day, Morey said the global observance goes beyond celebration, noting that it also reminds women of the power of resilience and the importance of shared journeys.

“The day reminds us that our journeys are not just personal but shared,” she said. “Every step I took from scarcity to abundance has been a testament to courage.”

Recounting memories from her childhood, Morey spoke about growing up with big dreams despite limited resources, explaining that those early experiences helped shape her determination to succeed.

“When I was a child, I watched my dreams through a neighbour’s window, seeing Times Square flicker like a beacon,” she recalled. “At night, in the glow of our improvised ‘impanaka’ candles, I realised there was a bigger world, and I promised myself I would reach it.”

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According to her, a defining moment that changed her perspective came unexpectedly while she was playing basketball as a young girl.

“Then one night, as a self-proclaimed tomboy on a basketball court, I saw a fashion show and everything changed,” she said. “It was a supermodel gliding down the runway and suddenly I saw myself in her.”

“That was the moment I realised I could take up space, even if the world didn’t expect me to,” she added. “Every night, I started practising my walk in quiet passageways. I grew into my power — tall, unapologetic and refusing to shrink.”

Beyond her personal success story, Morey said her experiences inspired her to create initiatives aimed at empowering young girls through education, mentorship and social support.

Through her foundation, she has supported dozens of girls with programmes designed to encourage academic excellence, confidence building and leadership development.

She noted that empowering girls remains one of the most meaningful ways to create lasting change in communities.