The Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State and Chairperson of the Patience Umo Eno Golden Initiative for All (GIFA), Lady Helen Eno Obareki, has called for a radical shift in how global leaders invest in African women and girls.
Serving as a panelist at the third plenary on the topic “Education, Skills and the Next Generation”, at the prestigious First Ladies of Africa Impact and Resilience (FLAIR) Global Summit 2026, which took place in London from October 5 to 7, Lady Obareki advocated for human capital development, gender equity, and localised policy reform.
She argued that Africa’s true developmental challenge lies in the systemic limitations placed on young women.
“The greatest challenge facing our continent today is the structural barrier imposed on the imagination, capacity, and self-worth of the African girl child,” Lady Obareki stated. “We must move past superficial aid. True progress demands that we intentionally re-engineer our investments toward long-term STEM literacy, digital skills, and practical tools that grant women absolute financial self-reliance.”
Drawing from her extensive experience coordinating grassroots initiatives in Akwa Ibom State through GIFA, Lady Obareki urged global policymakers to transition from abstract frameworks to people-centered governance.
She emphasised that international best practices must be intentionally adapted to directly solve the unique, rural, and grassroots challenges of West African communities, particularly regarding access to maternal and child Healthcare and the economic inclusion of vulnerable populations.
The summit, brought together African First Ladies, global lawmakers, and corporate executives across iconic venues including the London Stock Exchange Group( LSEG) where delegates to the Summit led by Dr Yvonne Thompson and other co-founders of the (FLAIR) Global Summit, gathered for a high-profile, invitation-only Market Closing Ceremony, and an afternoon of engagement with other leaders and partners.
Later, a gala to close the Summit held at the Dorchester in London, where Lady Obareki received the “FLAIR Award for services to Women and Girls”, from the organisers of the Summit, alongside other recipients, including women leaders, changemakers and advocates.