A charity organisation, The Ilimi Children’s Fund (ICF), has trained fifty adolescent girls in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on sexual and reproductive health, rights, and financial literacy through its “Teach Her to Reach Her” programme.
Programme Coordinator at ICF, Ms Tovia Muo, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Lagos.
The non-profit organisation, which aims to bridge gaps in access to education and entrepreneurship, stated that it has empowered communities in Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and other states through policy advocacy and efforts to combat gender-based violence.
According to Muo, the training was part of the ICF’s broader Training, Advocacy, Research, and Mentorship (TARM) project, which involved girls selected from public secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
She explained that the training aimed to address widespread misconceptions surrounding reproductive health while helping the girls understand key issues such as bodily autonomy, menstrual cycles, consent, and available support systems.
In addition to reproductive health, participants were introduced to basic financial concepts, including saving, goal-setting, and money management. Muo emphasised the importance of early financial education as a tool for long-term self-reliance and empowerment.
Muo said the initiative was designed to equip teenage girls with the knowledge and mentorship they needed for life. She explained that the “Teach Her to Reach Her” programme was only the beginning, noting that many adolescent girls still lacked access to accurate information, mentorship, and safe learning spaces. She stated that ICF was calling on development partners, government institutions, the media, and donors to help expand the initiative.
She added that investing in girls has a multiplied impact and builds stronger families, healthier communities, and a brighter future for all.
Muo noted that the one-day engagement created a safe and inclusive learning environment where the girls could freely explore issues related to informed decision-making and economic independence.
She expressed gratitude to ICF’s partners and stakeholders for their support of the girl-child, singling out WRTHY for its continued partnership, UNFPA for delivering age-appropriate and rights-based education, the EDC Alumni Network for a practical financial literacy session, and the FCT Secondary Education Board for its endorsement and ongoing support of girl-focused initiatives.
Also speaking at the training, Mrs Esesua Adeyemo, Founder of JustAskSaisy Enterprise and a facilitator at the event, emphasised the importance of self-discovery and ambition.
“We are raising girls who will not just ask for a seat at the table, they will build their own,” Adeyemo said. “Every girl we reached now knows that her voice, her choices, and her future matter.”
Another facilitator, Dr Kelechi Anyikude of the WRTHY Foundation, expressed hope that the training would leave a lasting impact on the participants.
Dr Kelechi Anyikude said he was deeply passionate about empowering young girls and helping them realise their full potential. He explained that education and mentorship played a crucial role in shaping brighter futures and noted that the event had offered a meaningful way to contribute to that cause.
“I hoped to inspire confidence, share knowledge, and promote real opportunities for girls to lead and succeed. The impact of this programme goes beyond a single day. It fosters lasting connections, encourages self-belief, and sparks a movement of informed, capable, and empowered young women.”
