In a bold move to equip girls in Kaduna State with practical skills for independence, Empowering Her, in partnership with Projectsmile for Humanity Foundation, Areum Grace Empowerment Center (AGEC), Goldee Afrique, and Ochelet Cakes, has launched a free skills acquisition program for 26 beneficiaries.
The program, themed “Unleash Your Power; Connect, Inspire, Rise,” also enjoyed support from Viktoriouz Coutour and Eutried Nails Art.
Convener Ms. Comfort Ojo said the initiative is designed to provide mentorship and skill-building opportunities for girls and young women regardless of their backgrounds.
“Our goal is to empower these young women to become independent and self-sufficient after school. We want them to find hope in their own potential,” she said.
Comfort explained that the program is entirely free, with facilitators who themselves have risen from humble beginnings to success serving as mentors. She appealed for sponsorships to sustain and expand the project.
Prof. Hauwa Yakubu, a criminology and gender studies specialist at Kaduna State University and Matron of Empowering Her, commended the effort.
“Every woman possesses unique abilities and values; breaking mental barriers is essential. The time to connect, inspire, and rise unapologetically is now,” she urged.
Hauwa pledged long-term commitment to the program, stressing that empowering women benefits families, communities, and the nation.
Gladys Matthew, Executive Director of AGEC, described the project as a “collective responsibility to uplift underprivileged girls and create lasting change.”
Facilitator Godiya Thomas, CEO of Goldee Afrique, expressed her passion for bead-making and mentorship, promising to help beneficiaries “do even better” than herself. Princess Glory Ernest, CEO of PG Graphics, highlighted the program’s role in reducing the financial burden on parents by equipping girls with income-generating skills.
Beneficiaries also shared their excitement. Fourteen-year-old Kemi Olushola said she was “thankful for the opportunity” to pursue her passion without cost, while Aisha Abubakar, 25, urged her peers to value the rare access to top-tier trainers.
The program currently offers training in catering, bead-making, nail artistry, fashion design, and graphic design, with plans to expand into technology skills in the future.
