No fewer than 250 girls from Lagos City College, Yaba, Lagos, have been equipped with financial literacy and soft skills through the Big Sister Programme, an initiative of Women in Management, Business, and Public Service (WIMBIZ).
The program, held simultaneously at Lagos City College and Wesley Girls College, aimed to inspire girls aged 14 to 18 by boosting their confidence and showing them they can achieve anything they set their minds to.
Omowummi Akingbohungbe, Executive Director of WIMBIZ, described the event as an interactive and educational platform designed to guide young girls on their life journeys. “We created the Big Sister Program to engage girls at a younger age, inspiring them through older sisters who have faced similar challenges and are now in leadership roles,” Akingbohungbe explained.
The program also featured facilitators who shared their knowledge in line with a specially designed curriculum for the participants.
Folake Adama, Chairman of the WIMBIZ Big Sister Programme 2024, highlighted the organisation’s partnership with Junior Achievement Nigeria to empower and motivate the girls. “We want to encourage these young women to dream big, build self-confidence, and believe in themselves,” she said, emphasizing that developing soft and life skills can accelerate their leadership journeys.
One of the participants, Mercy Akiya, a national robotics competition winner, expressed her gratitude for the experience. “I’ve been inspired to learn more about financial literacy and feel empowered to be more ambitious. This programme has helped me see myself as a change-maker,” she said.
The event underscored the importance of life skills and soft skills in shaping future leaders, with the hope that these girls will continue to challenge barriers and aim for success in their future careers.
