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Rhoda Serene Care Foundation, in collaboration with other women-led organisations: Naija Feminists Media, BO Foundation for Inclusive Media, Glorious Hearts Foundation, and Arise for Girls, held the Youth Leadership, Safety and Wellbeing Summit 2026 on Thursday, 10 September, in Agege, Lagos State. The summit is an annual youth empowerment programme, with this year’s edition themed “Empowering Young People to Lead Change.”
The 2026 edition brought together 13 youths aged 11 to 17 for a programme focused on equipping them with relevant skills, amplifying their voices, and supporting their development in safer, more inclusive communities.
Youth Dialogue at the Summit. Photo source: Naija Feminists Media.
Simbiat Bakare, the Founding Director and Community Engagement Lead at Naija Feminists Media, trained the teenagers on the responsible use of digital platforms, urging them to use media responsibly, learn about their future careers, build self-confidence, and imbibe values of gender equality.
Simbiat Bakare, the Founding Director and Community Engagement Lead at Naija Feminists Media, trained the students. Photo source: Naija Feminists Media.
Safety was also a major part of the programme. Gloria Matthew, the team lead of Glorious Heart Foundation, taught participants about online safety and how to report sexual abuse.
Gloria Matthew, the team lead of Glorious Heart Foundation. Photo source: Naija Feminists Media.
As the summit took place on World Suicide Prevention Day, the Executive Director of Rhoda Serene Care Foundation, Rhoda Olorunfemi, trained the children on mental health and suicide prevention, focusing on emotional well-being, resilience and seeking appropriate support.
Rhoda Olorunfemi, Executive Director of Rhoda Serene Care Foundation. Photo source: Naija Feminists Media.
Additionally, Blessing Oladunjoye, Chief Executive Officer of BO Foundation for Inclusive Media, taught the children about disability inclusion, urging them to embrace diversity.
Blessing Oladunjoye, Chief Executive Officer of BO Foundation for Inclusive Media.
Through discussions, interactive activities and a youth policy dialogue, Esther Olaifa-Joseph, a trustee at Rhoda Serene Cares Foundation, immersed the children in the learning. The teenagers then pledged to become ambassadors of social change and leadership in their communities.
Esther Olaifa-Joseph, a trustee at Rhoda Serene Cares Foundation. Photo source: Naija Feminists Media
The summit ended with participants receiving books to help them build on their training. The women-led organisations have previously collaborated to train youth on menstrual health education, digital safety, and life skills on May 30, 2026, in commemoration of World Menstrual Hygiene Day 2026.
