..Building connections, inspiring leadership, and expanding opportunities for youth and women across Northern Nigeria
The 2026 edition of the Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walk, organized by Sheroes Rising for Development Initiative, was successfully held in Kaduna on April 18, 2026.
The event brought together women leaders, professionals, and emerging changemakers for a morning of mentorship, leadership engagement, and network building at the Murtala Square Kaduna.
The Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walk is a leadership initiative designed to foster mentorship, professional development, and leadership opportunities through structured conversations during a guided walk. It creates an informal yet impactful environment where experienced professionals mentor young people, helping to break traditional barriers and making leadership guidance more accessible.
Following the success of its 2025 Abuja edition, which united male and female leaders in a 90-minute exercise of mentorship and impact, the 2026 Kaduna gathering expanded the initiative’s reach. It strengthened mentorship connections and amplified women’s leadership across Northern Nigeria, providing a platform for aspiring leaders to engage directly with experienced professionals on career development, personal growth, and leadership pathways.
Held in commemoration of International Women’s Day 2026, the event was organized in partnership with the Maryam Babangida Centre for Women Development, Kaduna State Media Corporation, and other stakeholders.
It featured notable leaders and professionals, including the former Director General of the Maryam Babangida Centre for Women’s Development, Asabe Vilita Bashir who was represented by the Women Models & Mentors Kaduna, the Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration Kaduna State University Professor Maryam Abdu, and the UNICEF U-Mentors amongst others.
The walk focused on bridging the mentorship gap by connecting mentors and mentees in meaningful conversations that encouraged growth, relationship building, and professional advancement.
Participants described the event as a remarkable opportunity for impact, networking, and long-term leadership development.
The founder of SR4DI Hawwah A Gambo noted that the 2026 Global Mentoring Walk was not just a mentoring exercise but a powerful platform for building relationships, inspiring future leaders, and strengthening women’s participation in leadership spaces across Nigeria.
What distinguishes the mentoring walk is its departure from traditional formal settings. Rather than limiting mentorship to boardrooms or conferences, the guided walk format creates a relaxed and engaging environment for interaction which allows mentors and mentees to have open, side-by-side conversations, making the experience more personal, practical, and less intimidating for young participants.
This approach has proven effective in helping participants feel comfortable discussing their ambitions, fears, professional challenges, and personal development goals.
For many emerging leaders, especially young women, access to direct mentorship from accomplished professionals is often limited by structural and institutional barriers. The Global Mentoring Walk seeks to close this gap by making leadership conversations both accessible and intentional.
At the Kaduna event, participants engaged in discussions on social development, personal growth, national security, leadership and confidence building, workplace advancement, entrepreneurship, education, policy influence, and balancing personal and professional responsibilities.
Many young women shared their experiences of navigating male-dominated spaces and the challenges of pursuing leadership positions in environments where support systems are limited. Mentors offered practical guidance drawn from years of experience, shared lessons on resilience, strategic networking, self-confidence, and the importance of consistency in building both career success and leadership credibility.
These conversations provided not only advice but also reassurance that many successful women have faced similar challenges and overcome them.
The presence of institutional leaders reinforced the importance of mentorship as a long-term investment in national development. Leadership development goes beyond individual success; it strengthens communities and institutions by producing informed, confident, and capable leaders.
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