By Iheanyi Enwerem
The Founder of the Young Female for Leadership Network (YFFLN), Dr. Adaora Onyechere Sydney-Jack, has called on young women to intentionally develop leadership skills, embrace civic participation, and use communication as a powerful tool to shape society.
Dr. Sydney-Jack made the call during the 2026 International Women’s Day commemoration organized by YFFLN Powered by Gender Strategy Advancement International (GSAI),at the Imo State University, where she delivered a keynote address titled “Give to Gain: From Skills to Empowerment”, on Friday.
The event, held at the institution’s Mass Communication Department, brought together students, lecturers, gender advocates and development partners to discuss leadership development and empowerment for young women.
Speaking to the students, the YFFLN founder described the media as a powerful instrument capable of shaping national narratives and influencing societal 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 Ace broadcaster, when young women understand how to control narratives and communicate effectively, they position themselves to become leaders in society.
Dr. Sydney-Jack also highlighted the long history of excellence and resilience associated with women from Imo State and the Igbo community, citing notable figures such as Margaret Ekpo and Oby Ezekwesili who have made global impact through advocacy, leadership and public service.
She told the students that their greatest challenge is not global competition but overcoming fear and self-limitation.
“Your greatest competition is not the world. Your greatest competition is the version of yourself that is afraid to rise,” she said.
Explaining the objective of YFFLN, Dr. Sydney-Jack said the network was created to prepare young women for leadership through mentorship, skill development and civic engagement.
The Imo State Coordinator of the Young Female for Leadership Network (YFFLN), Amarachi Agupusi, was also present at the event and commended the initiative for creating a platform that encourages young women to develop leadership capacity and civic consciousness.
One of the resource persons at the programme, Nwakaego Ohaegbulam, a lecturer and media practitioner, also addressed the participants, urging them to combine academic knowledge with practical media skills in order to compete effectively in today’s dynamic communication landscape.