Twenty-six girls from the Ogbogba community in Kogi State are excited to begin the new school term with scholarships and support from the Girls Initiative for Future Transformation Scholarship (GIFTS) Project, spearheaded by Empowering the African Girl Child (EMTAG) Foundation.
The award ceremony took place on Friday at Community Secondary School, Ogbogba, where EMTAG founder, Solace Ojotule Okeyi revealed that 18 girls from the senior secondary category, 6 from the junior secondary category, and 2 from the primary school category received their tuition fees for the upcoming term.
“An exceptional male applicant from the primary school category brought the total number of beneficiaries to 27,” she added.
Chief Yakubu Salifu Cna, the Oga Ata Ogbogba, praised the initiative for aligning with the community’s desire for development through education, particularly the empowerment of young girls. He expressed confidence that the GIFTS project would encourage families to prioritize girls’ education and help them reach their full potential.
Mr. Ainiko Stephen Yakubu, Chairman of the Ogbogba Community Development Association, also lauded the initiative, noting how it would ease the financial burden on families, allowing the girls to focus on their studies.
Similarly, Mr. Yakubu Omaga, Board Chairman of Community Secondary School, expressed gratitude and optimism that the project would inspire families to prioritize female education.
The Principal of Community Secondary School, Ogbogba, Mr. George Yakubu, seized the event to passionately encourage the community to educate their female children and create equal opportunities for them as for boys.
He expressed his gratitude to EMTAG Foundation for its timely intervention in supporting the community’s education goals.
Mrs. Veronica Sunday, a mother of one of the beneficiaries, shared an emotional reflection on her own lack of educational opportunities and expressed gratitude for the chance her daughter now has for a better future, thanks to EMTAG’s support.
Solace Ojotule Okeyi, founder of EMTAG Foundation, London-based MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program alumna, and International Development graduate from the University of Edinburgh shared her vision for the GIFTS project as a way to give back to Nigeria, her home state of Kogi, and the global cause of girl-child education.
She recounted her inspiring journey, which birthed the initiative and motivated the girls to be the best they can be, emphasizing that they have the potential to rule the world. She thanked the EMTAG team and volunteers for their dedication and called for more partnerships and support to further girl-child education.
Peter Ogohi Salifu, EMTAG’s Programme Director and Volunteer, who led the project on-site, emphasized that this initiative is a significant step towards promoting inclusive education in rural areas.
With his background in Applied Theatre, development communication, and community engagement, Salifu highlighted that the project was well-received and provided an important forum to sensitize the community on the value of educating girls.
He lauded the vision and dedication of EMTAG founder SolaceOjotuleOkeyi and extended his appreciation to the team of volunteers who made the project a success.
Among the passionate volunteers is Victoria Enyojo John, the project’s Finance/Administrator. Victoria, a freelance development researcher, writer, and entrepreneur with over five years of experience, is an advocate for girls’ empowerment, education, and child rights. She expressed her commitment to contributing towards projects that impact girls positively.
Other dedicated volunteers included Edem Perpetual Odinakaand Al-Baker Sophie, Communication Officers, who are passionate about the growth of every girl child; Ephraim Wilson, and Hamza Manga, who brought their expertise as graphic designers; and Sheni Dinchi, who volunteered as Project Officer. Their combined efforts ensured that the project ran smoothly and reached its goal.
The GIFTS project exemplifies EMTAG Foundation’s commitment to empowering girls through education and providing them with the tools they need to succeed, offering a hopeful future for the girls and their community.
