The Catalyst Symposium Akure, themed “Ma’ami Ajulo XCI: Legacy & Girl Child Mentorship,” has concluded successfully with participants leaving the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) energised and newly inspired on Friday, April 24, 2026 at the T.I. Francis Auditorium.
Held as a one-day gathering, the programme brought together young girls, students, emerging leaders, professionals, and mentors, blending intellectual engagement with vibrant cultural expressions. From the outset, organisers positioned the symposium as a platform for empowering the girl child to challenge entrenched societal barriers, take decisive action early in life, and build lasting legacies with the capacity to influence future generations.
The symposium was professionally moderated by Adeyemo Ademola Richard and Dr. Macaulay Barnabas, whose coordinated facilitation helped sustain a focused and engaging atmosphere throughout the day.
In the opening Welcome Address, delivered by Arogundade Dolapo, the convener emphasised mentorship as a necessary catalyst for holistic transformation. She urged the young girls present to deliberately craft their own legacies through courage, sound daily choices, and persistent purposeful action.
This year’s symposium was further inspired by the 91st birthday celebration of Princess Chief (Mrs) Christianah Monisola Ajulo, mother of Ondo State’s Attorney General, Dr Olukayode Ajulo, OON, SAN. Her life of service, grace, and wisdom was highlighted as an ongoing source of inspiration for mentorship and legacy building across communities.
A special keynote address was delivered on behalf of Professor Adenike Temidayo Oladiji, FUTA’s first female Vice-Chancellor, by Prof. M. T. Olowookere, Director of the Centre for Gender Issues in Science and Technology (CEGIST), FUTA. The presentation drew attention to Prof. Oladiji’s trailblazing journey in academic excellence and leadership, reinforcing the message that girls who dare to dream big can lead with integrity and make meaningful impact.
Among the programme contributions was a session by Adeoye Dideoluwa Goodness, popularly known as Lady Arise, whose presentation titled “Becoming the Girl Who Starts: Igniting Bold Action and Building a Legacy Early” urged participants to shift from passive aspirations to immediate and courageous execution.
The event also featured cultural interludes presented by FUTA students and scholars, including a soul-stirring Ewi (traditional Yoruba eulogy), alongside a drama skit and spoken word performances that underscored the resilience and leadership capacity of the girl child.
Additional sessions addressed a range of themes, including practical strategies for transforming confusion into clarity, girl-child issues in leadership and professional spaces, journalism’s role in amplifying the girl child’s voice and building generational legacies, the impact of low self-esteem, and entrepreneurial growth, including a closing presentation on becoming the person one once wished to see.
As the symposium ended, organisers reported that participants departed with renewed resolve—equipped with practical insights, reinforced confidence, and a renewed commitment to becoming bold starters, confident voices, and intentional legacy builders for the girl child across Nigeria and the wider African continent.
