The Medical Director of Orile Agege General Hospital, Dr Oluyemi Taiwo, on Friday urged young women to embrace mentorship and empowerment for personal growth and community development.

Ms Taiwo spoke during an interview as part of the activities commemorating the 2026 International Women’s Day.

She said mentorship helps young women professionals gain the visibility and confidence needed to excel in their careers.

The International Women’s Day is marked every March 8 worldwide to recognise women’s contributions and highlight issues affecting their rights and opportunities.

The 2026 celebration had the theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls,” while the global campaign theme is “Give to Gain.”

Mr Taiwo stressed that empowerment remains vital, urging women to use available opportunities to advance themselves and contribute positively to society.

She noted that the era when women stayed in the background had passed, as many now aspire to leadership and meaningful roles across sectors.

She stated, “Younger women should seek mentors who can guide them and help develop the skills required to succeed. Experience is valuable, and younger women should ensure they have mentors who can nurture them and bring out the best in them. At the same time, they must be willing to learn, grow and maximise every opportunity available to them.”

Ms Taiwo also urged experienced women to support younger ones by sharing their skills, knowledge and time.

“When you mentor people and recognise their talents, you give them the visibility they need to grow. This creates a ripple effect because empowered individuals can make meaningful impact within their communities,” she said. 

(NAN)