By Mercy Peter
The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the African Girl Guide, Dr Jindu Peter Elueze, has called for greater investment in the empowerment and leadership development of young women, saying that supporting women is key to sustainable national and global development.
Elueze made the call during the commemoration of International Women’s Day 2026, where the organisation formally activated its 406 founding cohort of young women leaders, describing the initiative as a major step toward building a generation of ethical and governance-ready female leaders.
Speaking to distinguished guests, development partners and the newly inducted participants, Elueze said the celebration, themed “Give To Gain,” highlights the importance of deliberate efforts to uplift women and girls through mentorship, education and opportunity.
According to him, meaningful progress in gender equality does not occur by chance but through intentional actions that empower women with the tools and platforms needed to succeed.
Elueze explained that the African Girl Guide initiative is built on the belief that empowering young women multiplies positive outcomes for society, including integrity, innovation, responsible leadership and inclusive governance.
He noted that the activation of the 406 founding cohort represents the organisation’s commitment to providing structured mentorship, leadership training, financial literacy education and access to opportunities for young women across Africa.
According to him, the initiative is designed to nurture a generation of women who are not only professionally successful but also equipped with the ethical and leadership capacities needed to influence policy, governance and development.
“Progress is not accidental; it is intentional. When we give mentorship, we gain confident leaders. When we give knowledge, we gain empowered decision-makers. When we give visibility, we gain representation. And when we give opportunity, we gain transformation,” he said.
“At the African Girl Guide, we believe that giving is not subtraction; it is multiplication. When we invest in young women, we multiply integrity, leadership, innovation and national development,” Elueze stated.
“You are not here by accident. You are here because someone believed in you. Now it is your turn to give give excellence, give integrity and give leadership,” he told the participants.
He stressed that the “Give To Gain” campaign goes beyond the organisation’s programmes, describing it as a global call to challenge stereotypes, confront gender bias and amplify women’s voices across different sectors of society.
Elueze urged institutions, governments, private sector organisations and civil society groups to join the movement by creating platforms that encourage women’s participation and leadership.
He also encouraged the newly inducted young women to embrace their roles as emerging leaders and to remain committed to excellence, integrity and service.
The African Girl Guide founder expressed confidence that the programme would produce a new generation of financially intelligent, ethically grounded and governance-ready women capable of contributing meaningfully to national and continental development.
He emphasized that empowering women ultimately benefits the entire society, noting that stronger female participation in leadership and decision-making processes leads to more inclusive growth and sustainable development.
“When women thrive, we all rise,” Elueze concluded.
