YouthHubAfrica implemented the STEAM flagship program for women and girls, a Nigeria Spotlight Initiative Program intervention to foster an integrated approach to life skills and 21st-century entrepreneurship training for women and girls. 12 women and girls within the FCT benefitted from the first cohort of this program (2021) and 30 women and girls benefited from the second cohort of the program (2022). The goal was to empower them as a key strategy in ending gender-based violence and harmful practices.
The beneficiaries were enrolled in the Le-look Bags Academy in Abuja where they learnt life skills and 21st-century entrepreneurship skills. The curriculum included manufacturing, business management, use of information technology, confidence-building networking, sexual and reproductive health, etc.
As part of the program, YouthHubAfrica conducted sexual and reproductive health training for the beneficiaries of the industrial academy for both cohorts. The training ran from September through to October and the content from the National Peer-to-Peer manual was used as the curriculum. The aim was to equip the beneficiaries with information and knowledge to help them make informed decisions that ultimately contribute to Ending Violence against Women and Girls and Harmful Practices.
It is worth noting that all 42 who started the training also completed it. An elaborate graduation ceremony was organized for the first cohort and this was graced by various dignitaries. The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline K. Tallen, the UNFPA Country Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Uller Muller, the UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Natalia Kanem, members of the Diplomatic Community in Nigeria, CSOs and Government Representatives were among the guests at the event.
The graduands were each presented with a certificate of accomplishment and a start-up kit which contained:
- 1 Industrial sewing machine
- 1 Manual sewing machine
- 1 Cutting Machine
- 1 Smartphone
This will give the graduates an edge in the market for them to be able to produce locally and leverage technology to promote globally.
Moments captured from The STEAM Flagship Program for Women & Girls activities