In commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child 2025, Thomas Adewumi University organized a special event to celebrate and empower young girls, reaffirming the university’s commitment to gender equity and leadership development.
The event, themed “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontlines of Crisis,” brought together the female students in the University community. It featured inspiring messages, engaging performances, and a thought-provoking keynote presentation by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Francisca Oladipo, who also served as the keynote speaker for the occasion.
The convener of the event, Mrs. Temitope J. Ayoola, delivered the welcome address, setting the tone for the day. In her remarks, she highlighted the importance of celebrating the girl child as a symbol of resilience and limitless potential “Today, we come together not just to celebrate a date on the calendar, but to affirm our worth, our strength, and our right to dream without limits,” she stated.
Mrs. Ayoola expressed profound appreciation to the university’s leadership for fostering an inclusive environment where both male and female students thrive. She especially commended the Vice-Chancellor for her visionary leadership and dedication to gender empowerment. Addressing the female students, she encouraged them to be confident, ambitious, and purposeful “You are not too young to dream boldly. You are not too small to spark change. And you are never too quiet to be heard,” she urged. She concluded by calling on every girl to leave the event with renewed courage and a strong belief in their own potential.
One of the major highlights of the event was the keynote presentation delivered by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Francisca Oladipo, titled “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead.” Prof. Oladipo shared her personal journey, from humble beginnings to becoming a leading voice in academia and technology.
She recounted how she broke several “glass ceilings,” becoming the first female Head of Department of Computer Science and the first female elected to the University Council at Federal University Lokoja, as well as the pioneer Director of RICE at Kampala International University, Uganda. She also noted her recognition as one of the first Africans to win the Google exploreCSR Award in 2022. Reflecting on these milestones, she emphasized that “Excellence speaks louder than prejudice.”
Prof. Oladipo further shared her academic and research journey through prestigious institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of Oxford, and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, highlighting the power of resilience, community, and lifelong learning. She encouraged the students to build confidence, seek knowledge, and embrace innovation. “Develop unshakeable self-belief and vision. Create your own learning pathways. Build diverse networks beyond traditional structures. Embrace resilience and lift others as you rise,” she advised.
She also stated the university’s commitment to preparing students for global excellence through its English Language Programme, Micro-credentials, Vocational Skills Training, and International Exchange Initiatives. Rounding off her session, the Vice-Chancellor inspired the girls with a heartfelt message: “Your background doesn’t determine your future. You are specially created, you are powerful, and your voice matters.”
The celebration also featured several engaging sessions, including a quiz competition on women who have achieved global recognition, a storytelling segment where students shared personal experiences, and captivating performances such as a dance presentation by Okeyode Julia, a 500-level Nursing Science student, and a spoken word piece by Mustapha Azeemat, also a 500-level Nursing Science student.
The event, which was beautifully anchored by Omotayo Saheed, a 500-level Nursing Science student, concluded with an atmosphere of joy, reflection, and empowerment, as participants departed with renewed confidence and a deeper appreciation of their worth and potential.
The 2025 International Day of the Girl Child celebration at TAU reaffirmed the university’s dedication to nurturing future female leaders who will continue to inspire change and make meaningful contributions to society.
