There was a time when the birth of a female child didn't have the purpose of celebration in many households. Male children were raised to aspire and lead, while female children were expected to conform. Education was rarely prioritised for them, and leadership was often seen as out of reach. In today’s Kwara State, however, that narrative is shifting.
Among those contributing to this change is Hon. Joana Nnazua Kolo, Adviser on Girl Child Empowerment to the Governor of Kwara State. She is one of several young women in the state actively working to promote access to education, end harmful practices, and expand opportunities for young women.
Since assuming the office, Joana has taken her work beyond formal spaces. She visits rural communities, speaks with young girls, holds sessions with mothers and traditional leaders, and supports efforts to strengthen policies that improve the wellbeing of girls. These engagements are making a difference, more girls are returning to school, receiving mentorship, and gaining protection from early marriage and related practices.
In March 2025, she attended a three-day workshop hosted in Ilorin by the National Coalition of Civil Society to End Child Marriage in Nigeria. Speaking in her capacity as Adviser on Girl Child Empowerment, she shared the state’s readiness to work with the coalition to tackle child marriage and teenage pregnancy. She also shared how education had shaped her own life, leading to her appointment in 2019 as Kwara’s youngest commissioner.
Joana’s work aligns with the broader direction of the AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq-led administration, which has prioritised inclusive governance. Through appointments across various sectors, the governor has created space for women and young people to participate in shaping policy and delivering services.
Joana’s public service journey began in 2019 when she was appointed Commissioner for Youth and Sports at age 26. Her entry into government attracted national attention, and she quickly set to work on youth programmes and sporting initiatives aimed at giving young people a stronger presence in governance. Her efforts were recognised in 2020, when The Guardian listed her among Nigeria’s 100 Most Inspiring Women.
Today, she continues to work to ensure that young women in Kwara, regardless of background or location, have access to opportunities that can change their lives. Her story is one of many in the state, where a growing number of women are shaping public policy and development across education, health, and youth engagement.
As she marks another year, Hon. Joana Kolo’s commitment remains clear. She is part of a generation of women in Kwara using their platforms to support others and ensure that the next generation of girls grows up with more options, more voices, and more freedom to choose their own path.
Happy Birthday, Hon. Joana Kolo.
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