TEENAGE GIRLS IN BAYELSA URGED TO DISCOVER PURPOSE, BUILD LEADERSHIP SKILLS

Mrs. Tombra Favour Amananaghan, the Founder of the Tombra Favour Empowerment Initiative has urged teenage girls in Bayelsa State to discover their purpose, build confidence and develop the skills needed to become responsible leaders.

She made the call in Yenagoa during the REVAMP Workshop 2026, organised by the initiative over the weekend to equip girls aged 13 to 19 with leadership, financial, digital and communication skills. The workshop, themed “From Potential to Purpose,” also focused on mentoring participants and helping them navigate challenges such as peer pressure and teenage pregnancy.

Mrs. Amananaghan said the initiative was established in response to the challenges confronting young girls, stressing that the programme would help them make informed decisions and prepare for leadership in their schools, communities and beyond. She said the initiative, which trained about 100 girls this year, plans to reach 500 girls next year, with more partners expected to support the programme.

Also speaking, Professor Oyintonyo Michael-Olomu of the Federal University, Otuoke, advised the participants to discover themselves before succumbing to societal pressure. She encouraged the girls to reflect on their values, behaviour and identity, while lauding Mrs. Amananaghan for organising the programme, which she described as an important step towards shaping the future of teenagers.

Also, Mrs. Tare Maureen Amananaghan, another speaker, urged the girls to identify their talents and understand their purpose, saying self-discovery would help them make better choices about their careers and lifestyles.

Some participants, including Miss James Michelle, Miss Edenbo Jane, and Miss Sunday Peremoboere, who emerged as winners of the essay-writing competition and went home with 200,000 naira, 100,000 naira and 50,000 naira respectively, expressed excitement over their success. They also said they learnt about self-discovery, public speaking and leadership from the programme and appreciated the Tombra Favour Empowerment Initiative for organising the workshop.

The workshop also featured leadership development, confidence building, financial literacy, artificial intelligence and digital skills, public speaking, teamwork, problem-solving, mentorship and a leadership simulation challenge.

Reported by Bright Okpo