Ayo Amen Ediae Honored for Mentoring Next Generation of Girls

Mrs. Ayo Amen Ediae, a Girls’ Power Initiative Alumna, has been honored with the “Girl Child Advocate” Award by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Special Development, Edo State. This was in recognition of her exceptional leadership, mentorship, and lifelong dedication to the empowerment of girls and women. The event which held March 7, 2025, […]

Mrs. Ayo Amen Ediae, a Girls’ Power Initiative Alumna, has been honored with the “Girl Child Advocate” Award by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Special Development, Edo State.

This was in recognition of her exceptional leadership, mentorship, and lifelong dedication to the empowerment of girls and women.

The event which held March 7, 2025, in the festival hall in Government House, was done in commemoration of the 2025 International Women’s Day.

Presented by Chief Bisi Idaomi Esq, the award citation described Mrs. Ediae as “a passionate and dedicated champion of women’s and girls’ rights,” who has made “immense contributions to the well-being, education, and empowerment of our girl child and women.”

But beyond the accolades and applause, this recognition speaks to something deeper—the transformative power of mentorship.

Over the years, Mrs. Ediae has not just taught girls about their reproductive health and rights or helped them stay in school—she has listened to their stories, nurtured their confidence, and helped them believe that they belong in every room, every conversation, and every decision-making table.

Through her community-led mentorship efforts, she has become the voice many young girls didn’t know they needed—and the guide they now know they deserve.

“Mentorship is more than a program. It is a promise—a promise that every girl is seen, valued, and capable of greatness,” Mrs. Ediae said during her acceptance remarks. “I didn’t set out to be a mentor to be celebrated; I did it because I know what it feels like to need someone to believe in you.”

Mentoring young girls is not a feel-good gesture, it is a strategic investment in the future. Girls who are mentored are more likely to finish school, avoid early marriage, make informed health choices, and become economically empowered. They are also more likely to mentor others, building a powerful cycle of empowerment that strengthens communities, economies, and nations.

In Nigeria, where cultural, economic, and systemic barriers continue to hinder many girls from realizing their potential, mentorship serves as a lifeline. It provides not just support, but representation, the chance to see what is possible through the lives of women who have walked before them. Mrs. Ediae has become that mirror for many, including a safe haven for adolescents navigating trauma, exclusion, or doubt. Her programs go beyond the classroom; they extend into conversations about dignity, choices, leadership, and self-worth. It’s no wonder many of her mentees today are lawyers, educators, tech professionals, and community leaders. In their success, her vision echoes.

Chief Bisi Idaomi, who presented the award, emphasized that true change does not begin in legislation, but in living rooms, classrooms, and communities—where people like Mrs. Ediae do the slow, unseen, but life-altering work of mentorship.

“She has made a career out of lifting others,” Chief Idaomi said. “Her mentorship is shaping not just individual destinies, but the soul of our society.”

As Nigeria commemorates this year’s International Women’s Day with the theme of “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment”, Mrs. Ediae’s recognition is a timely reminder: the girls we mentor today become the women who will change tomorrow. And if we want a better, safer, more equitable nation, we must invest not just in structure, but in people.

Mrs. Ediae, surrounded by her mentees, stood with grace and humility. “This award belongs to all women and girls around the world fighting for their rights, dignity, and freedom’’. She said. ‘‘This award serves as a reminder that your struggles, your resilience and your strength are seen, recognized and valued.”