Abuja: The Manager of African Girl’s Guide (AGG), Miss Sophia Okiasi, has urged young women to join the organisation and leverage opportunities to develop their skills, confidence, and capacity. Okiasi made the call during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, AGG was established to empower underserved African girls and young women through structured mentorship, educational support, and leadership training. The organisation aims to ensure that every girl, regardless of her background, has the tools and support needed to realise her potential and contribute to national development.
Okiasi emphasized that AGG is encouraging young women to become members of the organisation to access opportunities for skills development and personal growth. “The opportunities will connect young women with experienced professionals and role models to navigate academic, career, and personal development,” she said.
The organisation recently celebrated the graduation of 37 young women from a 12-week empowerment programme focused on building confidence, awareness, and leadership skills. During the event, 10 participants were recognized with outstanding awards for their contributions and active engagement.
The programme was designed to encourage participants to approach different environments with confidence and believe in their ability to achieve their goals. All 37 graduates received certificates of participation, while the award recipients were urged to remain committed to the values they had learnt and approach future opportunities with confidence.
Okiasi highlighted the government’s role in promoting girls’ education, preventing early marriage, and protecting young women through policies and programmes that remove barriers to their development. She called on governments at all levels to ensure that girls have access to quality and affordable education, safe learning environments, scholarships, and skills-development opportunities.
She also stressed the importance of stronger enforcement of laws protecting girls from early and forced marriage, abuse, exploitation, and other harmful practices. “Government should work closely with parents, traditional and religious leaders, schools, civil society organisations, and communities to sensitise them on the importance of keeping girls in school and protecting their rights,” Okiasi stated.
In partnership with key institutions, including the National Orientation Agency (NOA), AGG is raising awareness among young girls to help them understand their rights, make informed decisions about their education and future, and navigate societal challenges. Okiasi assured young women that AGG would continue to support them as they pursued their aspirations and worked towards achieving their goals.
The programme was initiated by the founder of the NGO, Mr Jindu Elueze, whom Okiasi commended for creating a platform focused on empowering young women.