Girl Takes Over: Nupur becomes Unilever’s chairman for a day

Unilever Bangladesh Ltd. witnessed a remarkable event on Thursday (October 26)  as 17-year-old Nupur, a promising young leader from Dhaka, took over the position of Chairman and Managing Director for a day, according to a press release. 

In an inspiring display of youth leadership, Nupur symbolically assumed the responsibilities of Zaved Akhtar, the Chairman and Managing Director of Unilever Bangladesh Ltd. This extraordinary initiative aims to empower girls, promote gender equality, and encourage activism and resourcefulness in communities as part of the Girl Takeover campaign.

This takeover event is a crucial component of the global GirlsTakeover campaign, a signature project of Plan International. Annually, Plan International organizes this initiative worldwide, including in Bangladesh, in conjunction with the International Day of the Girl, celebrated on October 11th. The campaign advocates for increased investment in girls' empowerment, activism, and leadership while challenging stereotypes surrounding girls and leadership roles.

Nupur, who assumed the role of CEO for the day, expressed her aspirations, stating, "Through this takeover, I want to motivate other girls in my community to step forward and take on leadership roles more frequently, using these experiences to define their life goals. This inspirational experience will also enhance my self-motivation and independence."

As part of her day's activities, Nupur also visited the British High Commission, where she participated in a launch event alongside the Ambassador and relevant officials. Nupur is dedicated to working tirelessly for gender equality and promoting girls' leadership within her community. She currently supports her education by teaching underprivileged children and aspires to become a journalist in the future.

Zaved Akhtar, Chairman and Managing Director of Unilever Bangladesh Ltd., expressed his delight with the day's activities, saying, "I am very pleased to have Nupur join us today. The Dove Self Esteem Project collaborates with young women like Nupur, providing us with the confidence and motivation to continue our work."

This International Day of the Girl 2023, the world unites under the theme "Invest in Girls' Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being," focusing on the three pillars of the Girls Get Equal campaign: Equal Power, Equal Freedom, and Equal Representation. Providing girls with equal opportunities and chances in life can lead to profound transformations in their lives and communities.

In 2021, Plan International Bangladesh and Unilever Bangladesh Ltd. collaborated on the implementation of the Dove Self Esteem Project at schools (DSEP). Unilever designed the project, while Plan International Bangladesh developed the rollout plan for the Dove Self-Esteem curriculum, introduced for the first time in Bangladesh, specifically in selected schools in Jaldhaka Upazila in Rangpur and Nilphamari district. The project's objective was to enhance the capacity of teachers, peer leaders, and parents in delivering self-esteem curriculum and peer modules, ultimately improving self-esteem and body confidence, emphasizing individual rights, free will, and children's choices, especially for girls.