The Hannah Agunkejoye Leadership Essay Competition (HALEC) is set to hold its third edition in 2026. Organised by the Ladies Helpline Initiative, HALEC aims to create a platform for young girls to develop their voices and express their ideas. The competition, now in its third year, has evolved significantly since its first edition in 2022. This year's edition will challenge participants with the thought-provoking essay topic: ‘If I Could Change One Thing in My Community, What Would I Create to Make Africa Better?’
The 2026 edition of HALEC is built around the belief that Africa’s future will not only be shaped by the leaders of today, but also by the ideas, creativity, and innovations of young people who are being empowered today. According to Hannah Agunkejoye, Convener of HALEC, the initiative is intended to help young girls understand that their voices and ideas have value. The competition seeks to empower girls to think critically about solutions they can create to problems affecting their communities.
The first edition of HALEC, held at the American Corner in Ikeja, challenged participants to reflect on leadership and governance. The second edition expanded the conversation to the digital space, focusing on ‘The Role of Digital Skills in Shaping the Future of the Girl Child in Africa’. This year's edition takes the next step by asking girls to combine leadership, creativity, technology, and problem-solving. The approach aims to nurture a generation of girls who are not only educated but also confident enough to imagine solutions and take action.
The essay competition will culminate in the Young Girls Leadership Summit, scheduled to hold on 29 October 2026 in Lagos. The summit, themed ‘Create. Innovate. Lead: Girls Shaping the Future of Africa’, will bring together an expected 200 secondary school girls. The programme will feature leadership and innovation conversations, digital skills engagement, mentoring, and interactive sessions.
The summit will provide a platform for young girls to learn from women leaders, entrepreneurs, technology professionals, and other role models. The goal is to inspire and empower the girls to become future leaders and problem-solvers in their communities. By combining leadership, creativity, and technology, HALEC 2026 aims to equip girls with the skills and confidence needed to make a positive impact.
According to Agunkejoye, HALEC gives young girls the opportunity to think, express themselves, create, and begin to see themselves as leaders. The initiative encourages girls to understand that they do not have to wait until they become adults before they begin to contribute to the development of their communities. A girl can have an idea today that can become a solution tomorrow.
The Hannah Agunkejoye Leadership Essay Competition will be held in Lagos and Ogun states, targeting secondary school girls. The competition is open to girls who are eager to express their ideas and showcase their creativity and innovation.
Key points
- The 2026 edition of HALEC focuses on creativity, innovation, technology, and community development among secondary school girls.
- The essay topic for HALEC 2026 is ‘If I Could Change One Thing in My Community, What Would I Create to Make Africa Better?’
- The Young Girls Leadership Summit will be held on 29 October 2026 in Lagos, featuring leadership conversations, digital skills engagement, and mentoring.
