We live in a society where tomorrow is pegged as belonging to the youth, particularly young women, the stark reality tells a different story. Despite making up approximately 70% of Nigeria's population under the age of 30, and with girls under 30 representing nearly one-third of the total population, girls' voices remain largely marginalized in decision-making processes across all sectors in Nigeria and Africa. In the World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Index, Nigeria is positioned at 139 out of 156 countries. These stark facts have formed front-burner conversations in civil society gatherings about a potential decline in female representation in leadership. Leadership is the core of every society that plans to grow and every society that puts women in the vantage position is serious. Female leadership is an endemic issue in Africa. In Africa, 70% of women are left out when it comes to financial and leadership opportunities, and it might take up to 140 years to change this if we don't act quickly, the report says. Despite constitutional provisions for gender equality, women still face injustices and marginalization due to discriminatory laws, cultural and religious norms, gender stereotypes, limited education, and the disproportionate impact of poverty on women. A Pew Research Center survey, rated women higher than men in leadership qualities. Women empowerment particularly young girls in rural areas in Nigeria is key because an empowered girl is an emancipated girl. Young girls in Nigeria face challenges like being told they aren't prepared for leadership, but when they do get a good education, some people see them as too intimidating. This happens in many parts of Nigeria, where women are seen as less important than men, especially in Northern Nigeria where young girls are given away at tender ages as brides instead of given education. Despite these challenges, women who have managed to break out and take leadership positions in different sectors of the economy, face gender and leadership disparity. Data from Dataphyte shows gender gap in Nigeria stands at 60% to 63.9%. This is where the program, BUILD A GIRL, BUILD A LEADER comes in. To address the many startling challenges facing young girls in Nigeria, our organization is launching this pilot program to build the leadership capacity of young girls in secondary schools in Nigeria.
The BUILD A GIRL, BUILD A LEADER, is a 10-week pilot program designed to empower and build the self-esteem of young girls in secondary school between ages 10-20 in underserved communities in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria with confidence and equip them with leadership skills and a sense of responsibility toward their communities. It will be implemented in Akwa Ibom State first, before subsequently spreading to other parts of Nigeria. This program which aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 5 - Gender Equality is timely for the implementation of gender equality and young girls' participation in leadership roles. By adopting SDG goal 5 as a guiding framework, we expect to create a ripple effect where the girls become changemakers within their localities. It is a response to the pressing need for meaningful inclusion and empowerment, recognizing that education, leadership skills, and civic engagement are pivotal tools for dismantling the barriers hindering young girls from participating in leadership and contributing to governance and the nation’s growth. Through the "BUILD A GIRL, BUILD A LEADER" program, we are targeting to empower 5000 secondary school girls in underserved communities to break down all societal barriers and become emerging leaders, prepared for the future.
The approach adopted for the implementation of this program is - drawing inspiration from the rich array of stories of powerful women across Africa who have defied the odds and emerged as leaders in various fields. Through these narratives, we aim to instill confidence, motivation, and a belief in the boundless potential within each participant. We will develop a multi-layer approach of exposing the girls to mind-shift workshops, storytelling, mentorship/coaching, self-affirmation messages, parent-child interaction, and community impact engagement. The essence of "Build a Girl, Build a Leader" is to see a more gender-equal society. Join us on this life-impacting journey as we strive to empower young girls, inspire leadership, and lay the foundation for a more equitable and inclusive future. For our community, for our girls, and for the vision of a tomorrow where every girl is recognized as a potential leader, we invite you to rise with us. Together, let's build a girl, and in doing so, let's build a leader.