International Women’s Day: Adaora Urges Young Women to Develop Leadership Skills

Founder of the Young Female for Leadership Network (YFFLN), Adaora Onyechere Sydney-Jack, has called on young women to intentionally develop leadership skills, participate in civic activities and use communication as a tool for societal transformation.

Sydney-Jack made the call during the 2026 International Women’s Day commemoration organised by the network at the Department of Mass Communication, Imo State University. The event brought together students, lecturers, gender advocates and development partners to discuss leadership development and empowerment for young women.

Delivering a keynote address titled “Give to Gain: From Skills to Empowerment,” Sydney-Jack described the media as a powerful instrument capable of shaping national narratives and influencing social change. “Media is not just about microphones and cameras. Media is about power, the power to shape narratives, challenge injustice and amplify voices that history has tried to silence,” she said.

According to the broadcaster, when young women learn to control narratives and communicate effectively, they position themselves to become leaders in society.

She also highlighted the legacy of leadership and resilience among women from Imo State and the Igbo community, citing figures such as Margaret Ekpo and Oby Ezekwesili as examples of women who have made global impact through advocacy, leadership and public service.

Sydney-Jack urged the students to overcome fear and self-doubt, noting that personal limitations often pose the greatest obstacle to progress. “Your greatest competition is not the world. Your greatest competition is the version of yourself that is afraid to rise,” she said.

She also explained that YFFLN was established to prepare young women for leadership through mentorship, skill development and civic engagement.

Earlier in her remarks, the Imo State Coordinator of YFFLN, Amarachi Agupusi, commended the initiative for providing a platform that encourages young women to build leadership capacity and civic consciousness.

One of the resource persons at the event, lecturer and media practitioner Nwakaego Ohaegbulam, advised participants to combine academic knowledge with practical media skills in order to remain competitive in the evolving communication landscape.