Event Date: 10th October 2024
Venue: Girls Senior Academy, Lagos Island, Lagos, Nigeria
Partners: ProtectHer, The Bravery Lab, iSafe, Apex Solutions Group Foundation
Project Overview
On 10th October 2024, Women Build Wealth, in collaboration with ProtectHer, The Bravery Lab, iSafe, and Apex Solutions Group Foundation, hosted a successful and empowering event at the Girls Senior Academy in Lagos Island, Nigeria. This event marked the International Day of the Girl Child, a globally recognised day dedicated to addressing girls’ challenges and equipping them with the tools to succeed.
The day’s programme centred around educating, inspiring, and equipping young girls with essential life skills and knowledge. Each partnering organisation introduced its mission, sharing motivational messages encouraging the girls to embrace their leadership potential, value education, and believe in their ability to shape their future.
Opening Session
The event commenced with a welcome address by Esther Njoko from ProtectHer. Esther emphasised ProtectHer’s mission to safeguard and empower girls, urging the students to recognise their potential. She acknowledged the valuable contributions of all partners and set the tone for a day filled with learning and inspiration.
Partner Presentations
Apex Solutions Group Foundation
Dr Oyindamola Ijewere, Executive Director of Apex Solutions Group Foundation, delivered an inspiring message focused on overcoming challenges and realising dreams. Apex Solutions is dedicated to creating growth opportunities, particularly for young women from disadvantaged communities. Dr Ijewere encouraged the girls to understand that they are the future leaders of society and that their voices and dreams are important and should never be diminished.
Temitope Ajao represented Women Build Wealth, sharing their mission of empowering young women with financial literacy and personal development skills. Bolatito Daramola led a session on fostering a wealth mindset, explaining that wealth extends beyond financial gains to living a purposeful and fulfilling life. The girls were introduced to interactive journals designed to inspire reflection on their goals and aspirations, complete with wealth and money quotes for daily motivation.
Representatives from The Bravery Lab delivered a powerful presentation urging the girls to recognise their leadership potential and build confidence. They stressed that bravery goes beyond physical strength—it is the courage to pursue dreams despite adversity. Each girl was gifted a reusable tote bag filled with sanitary pads, deodorants, and body soap, symbolising The Bravery Lab’s commitment to equipping young girls with both material resources and the confidence to shape their future.
Book Signing and Author Session
A standout moment of the event was the book reading and signing session with Dr Oyindamola Ijewere, author of Broken Promises. Dr Ijewere’s book addresses critical issues such as human trafficking and self-worth, resonating deeply with the students. She engaged them in an interactive session, answering questions and providing thoughtful advice on overcoming life’s obstacles. Every student received a signed copy of Broken Promises, each with a personalised message of encouragement.
Distribution of Gifts
Following the book signing session, the event transitioned to the distribution of gifts:
- Women Build Wealth distributed 100 customised journals and pens, encouraging the girls to reflect on their goals and future aspirations.
- Apex Solutions Group Foundation provided 100 hygiene kits containing reusable bags, sanitary pads, water bottles, and other essentials.
- The Bravery Lab gifted reusable tote bags along with personal care items like deodorants and soap.
In addition to the gifts for students, Apex Solutions Group Foundation presented 25 appreciation bags filled with essential food items, such as Maggi, salt, semovita, and macaroni, to the school’s staff as a token of gratitude for their commitment to educating and nurturing the students.
Closing Remarks
The event concluded with a heartfelt closing speech by Precious, who expressed gratitude to the partners and the school for their support. She emphasised the need for ongoing empowerment initiatives for young girls, highlighting the long-term impact of such programmes on the students’ lives. The programme concluded with a group photo session, commemorating the day’s success.
Conclusion
The International Day of the Girl Child 2024 event was a resounding success, impacting 100 young girls by providing them with essential resources, knowledge, and inspiration. The collaboration between Women Build Wealth, ProtectHer, The Bravery Lab, iSafe, and Apex Solutions Group Foundation exemplified the power of partnerships in supporting and nurturing the next generation of female leaders.
