The empowerment programme tagged ‘Girls Improving Resilience Through Livelihoods and Health’ (GIRL-H programme) is designed for beneficiaries between the ages of 10 and 24.
The entrepreneurship programme that was unveiled at the palace of the Alh. Abubakar Ahmed, the District Head of Ungogo, in Ungogo Council will run for 36 months.
Flagging off the programme at the weekend, Country Director, Mercy Corps Nigeria, Udubisi Anyanwu, explained that GIRL-H Nigeria is presently being implemented in Kano and Lagos through partners Isa Wali Employment Initiative IWEI and Action Health Incorporated AHI respectively.
The country director stressed that the multi-country programme running in Kenya, Uganda, Haiti and Nigeria is to improve the well-being of adolescents and young people to increase their access to and uptake of life skills and financial literacy, as well as foster pathways to economic opportunities.
Represented by Compliance Manager, Vicent Adejo, Anyanwu noted that the programme, which is being funded by an anonymous donor, focuses on the uptake of life skills, health information, basic numeracy and literacy, and financial literacy.
“GIRL-H Nigeria will build the resilience of 24,000 adolescents and young people in marginalised communities in Lagos and Kano Nigeria. The project model is built on the lessons of educating Nigeria Girls in New Enterprises (ENGINR), amongst other similar agency-wide Mercy programmes.
“The 36 months projects will build environment capacity by educating communities to transform gender and social norms so that girls and boys are valued and able to access their basic human rights.
“Working with the public and private sectors to foster opportunities for education, safe livelihood and financial Inclusion while urging the government to sustain and upscale the GIRL-H model in the education centre” Udubisi noted.
Executive Secretary, Isa Wali Initiative, Hamina Hanga, explained that her organisation is partnering with Mercy Corps Nigeria to implement the programme in five councils of the state.
She said the implementation will involve partnering with the Kano State Ministry of Women Affairs to reduce youth unemployment and create economic opportunities for indigenous people.
District Head of Ungogo, Alh. Abubakar Ahmed, who believed the intervention will reduce the influx of youth unemployment in Kano, applauded Mercy Corps Nigeria for the opportunity.
