ABUJA, Nigeria — When Dr Ifeoma Charles-Monwuba was 16, her father’s determination that she should continue her education helped change the course of her life. Rather than allow her future to be determined by early marriage, he insisted that she pursue her education, a decision she credits with opening doors to opportunities she might otherwise have missed.
Decades later, Charles-Monwuba is drawing on that experience in Grace and Grit: My Journey of Faith, Purpose and Leadership, a memoir that traces her journey through personal hardship, professional challenges and leadership in international development.
At the book’s presentation in Abuja on October 21, she called for greater support for the girl child, urging parents to encourage their daughters’ ambitions and government to provide safer, more accessible schools.
The event brought the message of the book into a wider discussion about the barriers that continue to limit girls’ education in Nigeria, including early marriage, poverty, insecurity and inadequate school facilities.
Charles-Monwuba said she wanted to share her experiences to encourage young people, particularly girls who may be uncertain about their future or lack the support needed to pursue their ambitions.
Her father’s intervention remains central to that message. She believes his decision to prioritise her education helped create the foundation for her subsequent career and personal development.
The author urged government to improve school infrastructure, provide adequate sanitary facilities and strengthen security around learning environments. She also highlighted the difficulties faced by children who travel long distances to school, arguing that concerns about safety can discourage parents from allowing their daughters to continue their education.
For Charles-Monwuba, protecting girls requires more than encouraging them to remain in school. It also demands an environment in which they can learn safely and have a realistic opportunity to complete their education.
The experiences behind that appeal are also examined in Grace and Grit, which Chido Nwakanma reviewed for BusinessDay on July 12, 2026.
Nwakanma describes the book as a candid account of a woman whose life has been shaped by faith, resilience and a determination to pursue her ambitions despite setbacks. The narrative begins with Charles-Monwuba’s upbringing in Nnewi, Anambra State, against the backdrop of the Nigerian-Biafran Civil War, and follows her development into an international development professional.
Raised as the eldest of ten children in a family of modest means, she experienced financial constraints and educational challenges. Her father’s belief in education, however, became a defining influence on her outlook and future.
Grace and Grit does not present her achievements as a straightforward story of success. It also examines the personal difficulties she encountered, including bereavement, health challenges, workplace harassment and the pressures of balancing family responsibilities with a demanding career.
Charles-Monwuba began her professional life in advertising before moving into public health communication and international development. Her career included work with organisations such as WaterAid and ActionAid, with assignments in countries including Senegal, The Gambia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Haiti.
These experiences exposed her to different development challenges and informed her reflections on leadership, service and the importance of creating opportunities for others.
In his review, Nwakanma highlights the book’s treatment of women’s leadership, integrity, mentorship and economic independence. He argues that its value lies partly in the author’s willingness to acknowledge vulnerability and failure alongside professional accomplishments.
The reviewer also offers some criticism, noting repetition in certain themes and suggesting that parts of the book would have benefited from tighter editing. Nevertheless, he considers it a meaningful contribution to African women’s memoirs and discussions about leadership shaped by faith and personal experience.
At the Abuja presentation, the focus shifted from the author’s individual journey to the conditions facing girls across Nigeria. Charles-Monwuba argued that parental encouragement must be matched by public investment in education and child protection.
Other speakers reinforced the need for families, communities and government to share responsibility for girls’ welfare. Akaoma Onyenolukwe highlighted the difficulties associated with child marriage and commended the author for using her experience to encourage and empower others.
The discussion reflected a persistent challenge: even where parents want their daughters to complete their education, poverty, unsafe journeys to school and inadequate facilities can undermine those intentions. For girls in vulnerable communities, these obstacles can narrow their choices long before they reach adulthood.
Charles-Monwuba’s story illustrates the difference that family support can make, but her appeal also points to the limits of individual determination. A girl’s future should not depend solely on whether she has a parent willing and able to defend her right to education. Schools must be accessible, learning environments must be safe, and protections against harmful practices must be enforced.
Published by May Publishing Limited, Grace and Grit: My Journey of Faith, Purpose and Leadership draws together the author’s experiences of family, professional development, personal loss and leadership. Its central message is that setbacks need not determine the course of a life, while faith, resilience and support can help people navigate difficult circumstances.
For Charles-Monwuba, sharing those lessons is also a way of encouraging the next generation. Her message to girls is to pursue their ambitions, while her appeal to parents and government is to ensure that they have the support and opportunities to do so.
The story behind Grace and Grit is personal, but the question raised at its presentation is much broader: how many more Nigerian girls could fulfil their potential if their education and future were protected from the pressures that force them out of school?
