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Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has criticised the cultural conditioning that teaches young women to accept shame and remain silent instead of confronting injustice or asserting their value.
Speaking in Abuja during a mentorship and interactive session organised to mark the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child on Sunday, the Kogi Central senator stated that society must unlearn norms that push women to accept blame and suppress their voices.
“It’s important to identify the girl that I am. Many of us, especially girls, grow up without ever taking the time to understand or connect with who we truly are,” she said.
“Society defines and shapes us from childhood, and we’re rarely given the chance to think for ourselves. Before you figure out your career, your drive, or the change you want to make, you must first know who you are.”
Decrying the entrenched expectations that restrict women’s ambitions, the senator 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, titled “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,” brought together more than 50 young women from various parts of Nigeria for an evening of open conversation, reflection, and empowerment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan noted that her mission extends beyond politics, stressing that she would not feel accomplished until her efforts bring tangible transformation to communities that have long been deprived of opportunities.
Among the guest speakers was anti-human trafficking activist Yakubu Oyiza Hope, who recounted her experiences of abduction, banditry, and violence before becoming an advocate for victims.
Participants described the event as “eye-opening and transformative” and urged the senator to establish a formal mentorship programme to sustain the initiative’s impact.
The session, which was attended by journalists and media figures, concluded with renewed calls for women to embrace self-discovery, bravery, and leadership while challenging societal expectations.
Akpoti-Uduaghan returned to the Senate on October 7 after serving a six-month suspension that generated debate over institutional authority, gender equality, and due process.
Her suspension, issued on March 6, 2025, followed her protest against the reassignment of her seat in the chamber—her nameplate removed—by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, an act she described as an attempt to “silence” her.
During her suspension, her salary, security, and allowances were withheld; her office was locked; and she was prohibited from accessing the Senate premises or participating in legislative duties.
Legal proceedings ensued, and a federal high court declared the suspension unconstitutional. Although the Senate initially resisted enforcing the judgement, her office was eventually reopened in late September.
When plenary resumed after a ten-week recess, she returned to the Senate chamber accompanied by a few supporters and colleagues, officially resuming her legislative responsibilities.
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