Educate a Girl in Nigeria & Give Her a Future

Thomas Paine said, ‘the mind once enlightened, cannot again become dark’.

This is what exactly happened to all our Educate a Girl scholars in Nigeria. We asked few of our #EAGNigeria winners to share their EAG training experience with us and the response is overwhelming. We got so much feedback and decided to share some of it with you all.

Adenika Aina, is one of the #EAGNigeria scholar who arrived on the first day of EAG training with a very low self esteem.

She wrote, “I was too timid to participate in the numerous life changing activities; from the mind-blowing lectures on Journalism, to the deeply inspired biography of Malala Yousafzai, due to a malnourished sense of confidence my home provided me. It was soon very clear to me, that I would have no limit, but myself”.

In a nutshell, she said that she was filled with enthusiasm throughout the training program, and by the third day, when the trainer came over; speaking with passion and truth, and asked everyone: ‘Anyone here willing to change the world through her voice?’

Aina said that the trainer’s words ignited her soul that she was unable to remain dumb. She confidently stood and shared her dreams. The audience obviously noticed her fiery voice, because when she sat down, she said she heard people whisper, while someone squeezed her hand. It was an overwhelming experience for her, standing to share her thoughts in front of an audience

She was happy within herself, because she found her voice, and discovered her passion on that day which was the focus of the training: ‘By women, for women; to change lives globally’.

Realizing that the coin must be invested, Aina swung into action when she got home. She lives in a remote area, Atan Ota; where the highest education for the girl child, on an average, is the junior secondary education, before she transits to her husband’s house who often sees her as a flesh of wretch; a half baked, half-being, with no practical skills.

She had tête-a-tete with most of them, which today, has turned into a catalyst for them. She also motivated and inspired a few female senior students, who serve as role models to the junior ones. Most of them now raise and inspire themselves, by focusing on higher goals and dreams.

Furthermore, She is currently working on a project. A passion. It is a foundation which creates awareness and provides support to those living with muscular dystrophy in Nigeria.

She wrote, “Without the EAG experience, I might still be roaming in darkness, without form, without voice”

There are many other Educate a Girl winners in Nigeria like Aina, who got inspired with this training and now are inspiring others, and it’s all because of the wonderful donors, like you, who made this happen. So on behalf of everyone connected with Educate a Girl, we would like to thank you!

We have many other deserving girls across Nigeria on our waitlist to attend #EAGNigeria. Donate today, please spread the word, and together, we can transform lives.

Girls are powerful, fierce and determined change-makers — but they aren’t always valued for those bold qualities.

Society often discourages girls from claiming education, opportunity and power — all markers of success. But in a world that constantly discourages women from taking leadership, some girls are fighting back, stepping up as advocates in their local communities.

It’s been some months since we had our first session of Educate a Girl in Nigeria & Give Her a Future - #EAGNigeria. We still remember that when our team was planning for the session, we just had one thing in mind that we want to bring positive change in everyone’s life. We want to transform the lives of these girls we are going to educate.

Today, these girls are incredible young women transforming their local communities by empowering their peers. 

In the future, we believe they will be the world's #WonderWomen, lifting up girls across the globe by combatting inequality in their hometowns and beyond.

Jennifer is a 22 years old girl and is one of the Educate a Girl scholars who benefitted from the trainings offered by the project “Educate a Girl in Nigeria & Give Her a Future”, which educated 250 deserving girls including Boko Haram orphans in Media Studies and gave them a platform for their voices to be heard and to encourage their freedom to say what they wish for and also to help their community.

According to Jennifer, this was a life changing experience for her because it made her realize that how important it is to be educated. She said many children in her community face problems obtaining quality education. Schools are constantly closing. There’s a lack of teachers and educational materials. Students often drop out of school to enter the workforce. And she is determined to change all that.

Today, Jennifer is the founder of HAGI – Hope for African Girl Initiative, which set out programs, seminars, trainings and campaigns to primary and secondary schools and has empowered many young girls by linking them to opportunities that enhance their chances of success in creating a better society in Africa and beyond.

Jennifer is also a millennial entrepreneur and creator of HAGI Creative Collections that empower girls in rural communities to manufacture versatile and durable shoes, bags and clothing from up-cycled tire and scrap fabrics.

She said that she believe GIRLS has the potential to make a difference in their communities and seeks to transform the lives of individuals which the society marginalizes.

There are many more Educate a Girl scholars in Nigeria, like Jennifer, who got encouraged to give out to their community after the #EAGNigeria training and it’s all because of the wonderful donors, who made this happen. So on behalf of Jennifer and all other girls, we would like to thank you!

We are raising funds to educate 3000 more girls in Nigeria and for which we need support that we seek from our wonderful donors, so we could transform the lives of many more girls in Nigeria.