The Founder of the BEMORE initiative and wife of the former Governor of Ondo State, Dr Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has hosted seventeen BEMORE Girls from Imo State to a warm and inspiring end-of-year gathering aimed at strengthening girl-child empowerment and mentorship.
The event, tagged “End-of-the-Year Sit-Out with Grandma,” was held on Sunday, December 22, 2025, and brought together girls who participated in the 2025 BEMORE Summer Bootcamp held in September in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Each participant attended the sit-out with two friends, further widening the programme’s impact among young girls in the state.
The gathering was also graced by Dr Ijeoma Emeagi, an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) specialist from the Federal Polytechnic, who attended as Special Guest and delivered a motivational pep talk.
She urged the girls to cultivate a strong reading culture, deepen their knowledge base and remain consistent in their pursuits in order to achieve lasting success.
Speaking at the event, Dr Anyanwu-Akeredolu expressed delight at seeing the girls looking healthy, confident and hopeful, noting the positive changes in their lives since their exposure to new knowledge and skills at the BEMOREOYO2025 Bootcamp.
She encouraged them to remain steadfast on a new trajectory defined by self-awareness, confidence and a commitment to becoming positive change agents within their homes, communities and the larger society.
She stressed that while formal education is important, it becomes more impactful when complemented with practical, income-generating skills.
According to her, equipping girls with the capacity to earn a decent living promotes financial independence, dignity and confidence, while reducing vulnerability and unhealthy dependence, which often fuels domestic violence and abuse.
Dr Anyanwu-Akeredolu therefore advised young girls, particularly those planning for marriage, to ensure they acquire skills that guarantee a decent livelihood and personal independence.
Some of the BEMORE girls shared testimonies of progress recorded since the bootcamp, revealing how skills acquired in areas such as graphic design, chin-chin production, baking, make-up artistry and gele (head-tie) styling have enabled them to earn income and reduce dependence on their parents.
Others highlighted their efforts at giving back to society, including breast cancer awareness campaigns in their schools and neighbourhoods.
Reflecting on the impact of the programme, the BEMORE founder described the testimonies as deeply fulfilling, noting that the initiative remains a labour of love inspired by her upbringing by teacher-parents who believed strongly in education for both boys and girls.
She recalled that during her growing-up years in Imo State, female education was largely undervalued, leading to early marriages and loss of human potential.
She reiterated that education remains the cornerstone of human capital development, stressing that an educated individual is better positioned to think right and act right – a philosophy she described as central to her life and public service.
Highlights of the sit-out included the distribution of Christmas packages to all BEMORE girls and their accompanying friends, adding a joyful close to the event.
Dr Anyanwu-Akeredolu expressed appreciation to the BEMORE Girls Imo Coordinator, Ambassador and Matron, Kate Iheloghara, for her exemplary leadership in organising the programme. She also commended Hon. Eucharia Nwamara, a dedicated BEMORE Matron, and Gele Agbai, an Imo-based journalist, for their support and coverage of the event.
The gathering once again underscored the transformative power of purpose-driven mentorship and sustained investment in the education and empowerment of the girl-child.
