Lady Helen Eno Obareki, Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, has called for a shift from short-term interventions to sustained investment in African girls’ education, digital skills and economic independence, arguing that structural barriers continue to limit their potential and contribution to development.
Obareki made the call while advocating human capital development, gender equity and grassroots-oriented policy reforms at the third plenary of the 2026 First Ladies of Africa Impact and Resilience (FLAIR) Global Summit, held in London from October 5 to 7.
Speaking on the theme, “Education, Skills and the Next Generation,” she challenged policymakers and development partners to prioritise investments that equip girls and young women with practical skills, access to opportunities and the capacity to achieve financial independence.
“The greatest challenge facing our continent today is the structural barrier imposed on the imagination, capacity, and self-worth of the African girl child,” she said.
Obareki, who also chairs the Patience Umo Eno Golden Initiative for All (GIFA), maintained that meaningful progress requires moving beyond superficial aid towards strategic, long-term interventions capable of addressing the underlying barriers to girls’ development.
“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,” she said.
Drawing from her experience coordinating grassroots initiatives in Akwa Ibom State through GIFA, she stressed the need for development policies to reflect the realities of the communities they are designed to serve.
She urged global policymakers to adapt international best practices to local conditions, particularly in rural communities where vulnerable women and children face challenges accessing essential services and economic opportunities.
The Akwa Ibom representative identified maternal and child healthcare, alongside the economic inclusion of vulnerable populations, as areas requiring policies that translate global development commitments into measurable improvements in people’s lives.
Her position placed grassroots implementation at the centre of the discussions, highlighting the importance of connecting high-level policy commitments with practical interventions that address the needs of women and girls in underserved communities.
The summit brought together African First Ladies, lawmakers, corporate executives and other development stakeholders to discuss strategies for advancing impact, resilience and opportunities for women and girls across the continent.
As part of the programme, delegates participated in engagements at the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), including a high-profile, invitation-only market-closing ceremony led by FLAIR co-founders, including Dr Yvonne Thompson, and other summit organisers.
At the closing gala held at The Dorchester in London, Obareki received the FLAIR Award for Services to Women and Girls in recognition of her work in the field.
She was among women leaders, advocates and changemakers honoured at the event.
The recognition came amid growing calls for development initiatives to move beyond declarations of support for women and girls towards sustained investment in education, healthcare, skills acquisition and economic empowerment.
