Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Urges Women to Shatter Silence and Redefine Self-Worth

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has called for a cultural shift away from traditions that condition young women to endure shame and silence rather than confront injustice or assert their worth.

Speaking in Abuja on Sunday during a mentorship and interactive session to mark the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child, the lawmaker representing Kogi Central emphasized the need for society to unlearn norms that teach women to accept blame and suppress their voices.

“It’s important to identify the girl that I am. Many of us grow up without truly connecting with who we are,” she said. “Society shapes and defines us from childhood, often leaving us no room to think for ourselves. Before discovering your career or purpose, you must first know who you are.”

Decrying deep-seated expectations that limit women’s ambitions, Akpoti-Uduaghan added, “Women have been raised to take the shame, wear the blame, and zip their mouths shut. But that ends with us. We must find the courage to be bold, audacious, and fearless—to break barriers and climb higher mountains.”

The event, tagged “An Evening with Senator Natasha” and themed after the global campaign “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontlines of Crisis,” convened over 50 young women from across Nigeria for a night of mentorship, reflection, and empowerment.

The senator noted that her commitment goes beyond politics, saying she would not feel fulfilled until her efforts translate into tangible transformation in marginalized communities.

Among the guest speakers was Yakubu Oyiza Hope, an anti-human trafficking advocate who recounted her journey of surviving abduction and violence before becoming a voice for victims.

Participants described the event as “eye-opening and transformative,” and urged the senator to establish a formal mentorship programme to sustain its impact.

The session, attended by journalists and media figures, concluded with a renewed call for women to embrace self-discovery, courage, and leadership in challenging entrenched societal norms.

Akpoti-Uduaghan recently returned to the Senate on October 7 after a six-month suspension that sparked national debate on gender rights and legislative authority. Her suspension, which began on March 6, 2025, followed her protest against the reassignment of her Senate seat—an action she described as an attempt to silence her voice.

During the suspension, her entitlements were withheld, her office locked, and she was barred from legislative activities. However, after a federal high court ruled the suspension unconstitutional, her office was reopened in late September.

Upon resumption of plenary after a 10-week recess, the senator re-entered the chamber to resume her duties, welcomed by a small group of supporters and colleagues.