Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has called for a reorientation of societal norms that condition young women to endure silence and shame instead of confronting injustice or asserting their worth.
Speaking in Abuja on Sunday at a mentorship and interactive session to mark the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child, the Kogi Central lawmaker urged women to reject the cultural narratives that suppress their confidence and self-expression.
“We’ve Been Raised to Take the Shame”
“It’s important to identify the girl that I am. Many of us, especially girls, grow up without ever taking the time to understand or connect with who we truly are,” Akpoti-Uduaghan said.
“Society defines and shapes us from childhood, and we’re rarely given the chance to think for ourselves. Before you figure out your career, your drive, or the change you want to make, you must first know who you are.”
She lamented the deep-rooted cultural expectations that teach women to accept blame and endure humiliation rather than speak up.
“Women have been raised to take the shame, wear the blame, and zip their mouths shut,” she declared. “But that ends with us. We must find the courage to be bold, audacious, and fearless — to break barriers and climb higher mountains.”
Mentorship and Empowerment
The event, themed “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontlines of Crisis”,was tagged “An Evening with Senator Natasha.” It brought together over 50 young women from across Nigeria for an evening of open dialogue, reflection, and empowerment.
Among the guest speakers was Yakubu Oyiza Hope,an anti-human trafficking advocate who shared her personal story of surviving abduction and violence to become a voice for victims of exploitation.
Participants described the event as “eye-opening and transformative,” urging the senator to establish a structured mentorship programme to sustain the initiative’s impact.
Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasized that her mission extends beyond politics: “I would not feel fulfilled until my work leads to tangible transformation in communities long deprived of opportunity.”
Return to the Senate
The mentorship session also marked her first major public engagement since returning to the Senate on October 7,following a six-month suspension that sparked debates about institutional power, gender representation, and due process.
Her suspension — imposed on March 6, 2025 — followed her protest over the reassignment of her seat in the chamber and the removal of her nameplate, which she described as an attempt to “silence” her voice.
During the period, she was barred from all legislative activities, and her salary, security, and allowances were withheld.
A Federal High Court later ruled her suspension unconstitutional. Although the Senate initially resisted compliance, her office was unsealed in late September.
When plenary resumed after a 10-week recess, she returned to the chamber to a warm reception from supporters and colleagues, formally resuming her legislative duties.
A Call to Courage
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan concluded her address with a challenge to young women to reject fear and societal limits.
“The journey to change begins with knowing who you are and believing you are enough,” she said. “Our generation of women must not only speak but lead — loudly, unapologetically, and without shame.”
