Nigerian Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has issued a powerful call to dismantle cultural norms that condition young women to endure shame and silence, urging girls to embrace self-discovery, courage, and leadership in the face of societal constraints.
Speaking at a mentorship and empowerment session held in Abuja to mark the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child, the Kogi Central lawmaker addressed over 50 young women from across Nigeria. The event, titled “An Evening with Senator Natasha,” was themed after the global campaign “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontlines of Crisis.”
“It’s important to identify the girl that I am,” Akpoti-Uduaghan said. “Many of us grow up without ever taking the time to understand who we truly are. Society defines us from childhood, and we’re rarely given the chance to think for ourselves.”
She condemned the deep-rooted expectations that teach women to accept blame and suppress their voices. “Women have been raised to take the shame, wear the blame, and zip their mouths shut,” she said. “But that ends with us. We must be bold, audacious, and fearless—to break barriers and climb higher mountains.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasized that her mission extends beyond politics, stating that true fulfillment will come only when her work leads to tangible transformation in underserved communities. Among the guest speakers was anti-human trafficking advocate Yakubu Oyiza Hope, who shared her personal journey through abduction and violence to becoming a voice for victims.
Participants described the evening as “eye-opening and transformative,” and called on the senator to institutionalize a formal mentorship program to sustain the impact of the engagement. The event concluded with a renewed call for girls and women to challenge societal norms and lead change from the frontlines.
The senator’s return to public life follows a six-month suspension from the Nigerian Senate, imposed on March 6, 2025, after she protested the reassignment of her seat and removal of her nameplate by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. She described the action as an attempt to “silence” her voice.
During the suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan was barred from Senate premises, her salary and security were withdrawn, and her office was sealed. A federal high court later ruled the suspension unconstitutional. Although the Senate initially resisted the ruling, her office was reopened in late September.
She formally resumed her legislative duties on October 7, entering the Senate chamber with a small group of supporters and colleagues following a 10-week recess. Her return has reignited conversations around institutional accountability, gender equity, and the role of women in governance.
