As many young girls grapple with issues of identity, purpose and belonging, experts have stressed the need to strengthen the mother-daughter relationship as a foundation for raising confident, emotionally healthy and financially independent women.

This formed the basis for the seventh edition of the Mom & Daughter Ball, organised by the Model Woman Foundation, which is scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt on August 29, 2026.

Themed, “The Wealth Within: Nurturing Financial Confidence in Mothers and Daughters,” this year’s event seeks to deepen family bonds while equipping mothers and daughters with financial knowledge and confidence to promote stronger family values.

According to the organisers, the annual gathering provides a platform for healing, meaningful conversations, relationship restoration and intentional legacy building at a time when many families are experiencing a decline in shared values and meaningful connections.

Speaking at a media briefing in Port Harcourt at the weekend, the convener, Pastor Favour Osiri-Wisdom, a marriage and relationship counsellor, said the relationship between mothers and daughters plays a critical role in shaping the confidence and emotional well-being of young girls.

She noted that the absence of healthy mother-daughter bonding often leaves lasting psychological effects that manifest later in life.

Osiri-Wisdom explained that this year’s focus on financial confidence was informed by lessons from the previous six editions, which revealed that while many mothers desire to raise confident daughters, they were themselves never exposed to healthy models of motherhood or financial empowerment.

According to her, the Foundation has reached more than 2,250 mothers and daughters across Port Harcourt, Lagos, Abuja and Enugu since 2019 through mentorship, healing conversations, financial literacy and practical life skills programmes.

“Our vision is to raise a generation that is intentionally building stronger mothers, stronger daughters and stronger families,” she said.

She disclosed that the 2026 edition will introduce two new initiatives: a 14-day pre-ball bonding challenge for registered mothers and daughters, and a post-event mentorship programme designed to sustain the impact of the event beyond a single day.

She urged government agencies, corporate organisations, development partners and philanthropists to support the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention aimed at restoring family values and strengthening mother-daughter relationships in the digital age .

She assured that the foundation will continue its mission of strengthening families and raising empowered girls through intentional mother-daughter relationships.

Also speaking, Dr. Ella Ezeadiliejie, one of the event’s featured speakers, emphasised the importance of intentional parenting at a time when traditional communal child-rearing practices are gradually giving way to more individualised parenting approaches.

Founder of Women in Port Harcourt, Mrs. Wendy Prince-Amadi, highlighted the need to equip young girls with financial management skills, noting that many enter adulthood and marriage without the knowledge required to achieve financial independence.

A psychologist, Mrs. Chidimma Akpamgbo, underscored the importance of open communication between mothers and daughters, describing it as one of the strongest protective factors for children, particularly during long school holidays when parental supervision may reduce.

She said healthy communication helps build trust, resilience and emotional security in children.

Commending the initiative, the founder of SurThrive Media, Dr. Chioma Ezenwafor, said participating in the programme over the years with her daughter had positively influenced her parenting journey.

She described the Mom & Daughter Ball as a timely intervention that addresses critical family and societal needs.