Executive Director’s Opening Speech at the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2025 Side Event

15th April, 2025

1PM EST

Good day distinguished guests, esteemed partners, youth leaders and advocates. I feel honored to welcome everyone to this virtual side event at the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2025, with the topic: “Advancing Girls and Women Economic Empowerment for a Sustainable Future”. We are here to discuss this crucial topic that surrounds the unequal economic empowerment in the society.

I am Temitayo Olatunde, the Executive Director of Temvert Empowerment Foundation; a non-governmental organisation that advocates for gender equality and equal access to quality education. We have empowered more than one thousand school pupils through empowerment programs. Some of our projects include scholarships, distribution of school materials, and campaigns against menstrual poverty. We strongly believe that every girl and woman must be empowered to break the barriers that emanate from the social constructs. When girls and women are economically empowered, the society and world will thrive.

This event is made more significant through our partnership with the United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth (UNMGCY). We believe that young people, especially young women and girls are change makers and must not be deprived of the economic empowerment to drive change.

This side event will not only discuss the challenges but also identify the solutions to the challenges faced by women and girls in becoming economically empowered, thereby amplifying our collective voice for an equitable society. In order to achieve the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, we must all act now to ensure that girls and women have equal access to education and financial resources to thrive economically.

Thank you.