WELCOME ADDRESS BY H.E. MRS. MARGARET UDOH, FOUNDER OF WOGRAM, AT THE 2025 WOGRAM FOUNDERS DAY EVENT
Venue: Ocean Global Hall, Silla-Zeka Plaza, Abuja
Date: Friday, August 15, 2025
Good afternoon, distinguished guests…
Awardees… Honoured colleagues… friends and supporters of WOGRAM…
Distinguished Guests, Awardees, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with immense joy and gratitude that I welcome you all to the 2025 WOGRAM FOUNDERS DAY CELEBRATION. This gathering to me, is that of purpose, celebration, and renewed hope for women. Permit me to start by giving all glory to the Almighty God, who has preserved us, provided the strength for the journey, and continues to bless the mission of WOGRAM with divine alignment and favour.
Today is not just another event on the calendar; but, a landmark occasion in the life of our organization, the Women of Great Minds Initiative, known widely as WOGRAM. Today, we honor excellence, recognize character, and affirm the power of positive influence, especially as it relates to women’s empowerment and societal transformation.
To all our invited guests, dignitaries, partners, sponsors, media representatives, family and friends, I thank you immensely for honoring our call. Your presence here today adds weight to the message we are committed to delivering; that women matter, their voices matter, their contributions must be acknowledged, and their stories must be told.
As a part of my responsibility as the fore-runner of this great movement, I will love to share a little about who we are and why we gather. WOGRAM was founded on August 17, 2017, the thoughts came to bear during one of my summer holidays in the United States. This was exactly eight years ago, with a clear mission: to build the holistic capacity of women and girls across all spheres of life. We are an all-women, nonprofit organization, duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria, with members and associates spread across the globe.
I am almost made to believe that there is something about holidays. Why do I say this? My first organization, Youth Reformation and Awareness Centre (YRAC), was conceived as we commenced landing on the Atlanta Airport in 2008; seventeen years ago. This organization has grown and developed beyond Nigeria and obtained the AU and the UN statuses as at 2018; through this organization, children, youth and families have been reformed, over sixteen books, articles and media activities that target families, work place competence, and self-help have been published globally.
Back to WOGRAM, our vision is rooted in transformation, of mindsets, of communities, and of generations, through education, empowerment, mentorship, leadership training, and advocacy. Over the years, WOGRAM has become a vibrant platform for engagement, enlightenment, and elevation. We have hosted online and physical discourse sessions; led skills and values-based training for young women; and developed awareness campaigns addressing critical issues such as gender equality, economic empowerment, reproductive health, and leadership inclusion.
This year’s Founders day 2025, includes awards. You are here because someone, somewhere, saw your impact and said:
“This is a woman of great mind.”
Or,
“This is a man who lifts women with honour and pride.”
Congratulations. This recognition is well-earned.
To our distinguished audience, let me tell you why we do this.
We celebrate and encourage those whose lives have exemplified in governance, leadership, courage, service, careers, and philanthropy; and the men who have stood by and supported women in their journeys. We are happy to stand out in a world that often fails to highlight the incredible work of women, and as an organization that intentionally amplifies the voices and achievements of women. We know that behind every thriving community is a woman who stood in the gap. Behind every reformed institution is a woman who dared to question the norm. In families that children rise in greatness, is a mother-figure that has rooted herself on the ground to make the home unshakeable.
Today, we also shine the light on women who are not only successful in their fields, but who have also reached back to lift others. Women who have mentored, advocated, donated, led, and inspired. Their stories remind us that progress is possible when we create space for inclusion, dignity, and empowerment. Being an inaugurated activity in 2025, we are selecting only a few to represent us, as we grow, we shall amplify the clap for more women to increase their horizon. Every member of Women of Great Minds Initiative is a great achiever, worthy of an award,
“THIS IS WHY I AM ASKING THEM TO STAND AND HOLD THEIR CAPS, AS THE GREAT ACHIEVERS- WOGRAM (SLOGAN) – RESPONSE, GREAT ACHIEVERS.”
We also recognize the men who support women, not just in words, but in actions. Men who believe in equality, who give platforms to women, who mentor girls, and who challenge systems that suppress the female voice. Your support is vital, and today, we applaud you. Because today is not the end of anything, it is the beginning of a renewed call to mentor, to support, to speak out, and to rise.
We see you.
We thank you.
We honour you.
For being partners, not rivals.
For speaking up when it counts.
For choosing to build, not to dominate.
Your presence strengthens our work.
And we are grateful to you.
To every woman and every girl watching:
Your dreams are valid.
Your voice is needed.
And your presence matters.
As we honour our awardees, we hope their lives will inspire others to do more, give more, and become more. We want our young women and girls to look at these awardees and say, “If she can, then I can.” We want boys and men to see how powerful communities become when we walk together in dignity and mutual respect.
This celebration is not the end, it is a spark. A spark to ignite fresh ideas, new collaborations, and bold steps towards gender equity and national development.
Let me express heartfelt appreciation to the WOGRAM Board of Trustees, Advisory Board Members, and State Coordinators, Founders Day’s Planning Committee, volunteers, media team, and all hands that worked tirelessly to make this day a success. Special thanks to our sponsors and partners who believe in our vision and supported this event financially and logistically. God bless you.
To our awardees; congratulations. You were not selected lightly. Each of you is a beacon in your field. Your nomination and eventual selection speak volumes about the positive influence you have had in your community and beyond. Please wear this recognition as a badge of honour and as a charge to continue shining.
As we celebrate, I want to challenge us to continue to build networks, amplify our voices, mentor the next generation and remember that our collective strength lies in unity, and our progress lies in the actions we take. I encourage you to join WOGRAM in any capacity you can, as a partner, mentor, volunteer, or donor. Together, we can deepen the work we’ve started and widen the scope of our impact.
God bless you all.
God bless WOGRAM.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Amen.
Thank you.
H.E. Mrs. Margaret Udoh
Founder, Women of Great Minds Initiative (WOGRAM)
