SACHEM Holds 2-Day Summit to Empower Girls and Young Women on Mental Health, Career and Leadership

The Save the Child Health and Empowerment Initiative (SACHEM) has held the annual summit of its Healthy Girls for Impact forum as part of activities marking the organisation’s fourth anniversary.

The two-day summit, held in Abuja with the theme “Unlearning Girlhood: Let’s Talk One-on-One,” brought together girls and young women for sessions focused on mental health, career development, counselling, emotional well-being and personal empowerment.

Welcoming participants, the Founder of SACHEM, Sylvia Kamsiyochukwu Nnuekwe, a public health professional and certified caregiver, encouraged them to take advantage of the summit to openly share their mental health and career experiences and seek appropriate guidance from the professionals available at the programme.

Speaking on the theme, SACHEM Co-founder and Founder of FYNIMAGE Consulting, Dr. Constance Ogonna Egwuatu, a certified youth mental health counsellor and transformational leadership coach, challenged participants to question societal myths and stereotypes that have traditionally limited girls and women.

Dr. Egwuatu, who holds a PhD in Leadership, urged the young women to be confident and pursue careers, responsibilities and leadership opportunities based on their abilities rather than their gender.

She said, “Do not be limited based on your gender. Take up careers, roles and responsibilities of choice, and don’t allow the stereotypes which society has created around the female child to dictate who or what you should be.”

She also educated participants on the importance of self-confidence and establishing clear personal boundaries, noting that healthy boundaries help young women remain assertive and make informed decisions in diverse situations.

Also speaking, Mrs. Nosen Okaisabor, a counsellor, addressed participants on emotional intelligence and the importance of understanding and managing their emotions.

She encouraged the girls to recognise situations that are unhealthy or unfavourable and know when to walk away, while cautioning them against allowing peer pressure and societal stigma to dictate their choices.

“Know when to say no and seek help,” she advised.

A licensed physiotherapist and women’s health advocate, Mr. Chijioke Otikpa, while speaking on personal safety, protection and navigating girlhood in a challenging environment, urged the participants to be conscious of situations and influences that could expose them to violence, exploitation or decisions with negative consequences.

According to him, young women need to understand their environment, make responsible choices and develop the confidence to protect themselves while navigating the challenges associated with girlhood.

The summit concluded with one-on-one career reviews, individual counselling sessions, an open question-and-answer session and the presentation of certificates of participation to attendees.

The organisers said the programme was designed to provide a safe and supportive platform where girls and young women could reflect on their experiences, challenge limiting beliefs, receive professional guidance and develop the confidence and skills required to make positive choices in their personal, educational and professional lives.

SACHEM reaffirmed its commitment to promoting the health, empowerment, leadership and overall well-being of girls and young women through sustained advocacy, counselling, education and community-based programmes.