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Helping Girls Grow

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Every year since 2012, October 11 recognizes the International Day of the Girl. This year, YES alumni in Nigeria presented to over 350 young women in three different locations, educating them on topics such as education, reporting abuse, and self-empowerment.

One event, held in Katsina, Katsina State, brought together about 140 female students, 15 teachers, four principals and two proprietors. Those in attendance were treated to a game of Brain Teaser as they learned about the world around them and the impact they have on it.

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The event was titled, “Strong Girls, A Strong World,” and showcased two papers, one of which was written by U.S.-Government Exchange alumna, Jummai Garba. Garba’s paper, titled The Power of Adolescent Girls, explained to the girls the need for education as a mother and a caregiver. Garba is a mother herself, so she shared her experiences, setbacks and how education helped her overcome them.

The other paper, written by Tukur Zainab Ibrahim (YES alumna 2014-2015, Nigeria, hosted by IRIS) discussed higher education and its role as a necessity. Titled Benefits of Higher Education to a Female Child, Ibrahim’s paper looked at education after high school and how it would help the girls become more successful. Ibrahim also discussed the issue of early marriage leaving young girls uneducated or unable to further their education.

In past years, the group ran into issues of time as they moved from school to school to do the presentation. This year, the event took place in a hall in Katsina. The YES Alumni Association - Nigeria (YAAN) collaborated with the Ministry of Education and invited 14 schools to the celebration, with 12 schools accepting and attending.

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The event lasted about two hours, and included the presentations, quizzes and a closing ceremony. The top three schools who scored well on the quiz received prizes, and all schools in attendance received certificates for their participation in the event. Refreshments served at the end allowed everyone a moment to talk and get to know each other.

The YAAN-Katsina chapter considers the event successful, and hopes to plan more readily for next year’s event, according to Aliyu Abdussamad (YES alumnus 2014-2015, Nigeria, hosted by IRIS), the chapter’s president.

“All of us were very surprised about how far the invitations we sent out went. We budgeted for less than 100 students, but recorded about 120 at the end of the day,” Abdussamad said. “We have started planning for next year’s event but we discussed our mistakes and ways of making it more outstanding. We hope to get some increase in the budget so we can invite more girls to the event.”


Five hours south of Katsina in Kabala and Kakuri, two other International Day of the Girl events helped educate the girls in the community. The YAAN-Kaduna state chapter created two events, where speakers and presenters discussed topics relevant in young women’s lives at two schools: the Government Girls Day Secondary School Kabala Costain and the Government Girls Days Secondary School Kakuri.

The events at the two locations mirrored each other, with each school hosting the same four speakers to inform girls on different topics. The impact of this event in the two schools left the students with tips on how to take care of themselves, in terms of hygiene and self-esteem, and how to handle peer pressure. The event also made participants aware of the appropriate authorities to report to should they experience abuse.

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The first speaker was Halima Adaora Umar (YES alumna 2007-2008, Nigeria, hosted by IRIS). Umar discussed personal hygiene with the girls in attendance, providing them with methods of keeping their bodies and their surrounding in a healthy state.

The second presenter was Christie George with the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). George talked about self-empowerment and how it shaped her career. She gave the girls tips on how to shape their own self-empowerment by building confidence in their skills and talents.

Speaking third, Dr. Hauwa Evelyn Yusuf, another alumna from the U.S.-Government Exchange, presented on the issue of molestation and abuse. Dr. Yusuf listed the four types of molestation and used examples relevant to the girls’ lives to help them understand. She also gave the girls reassurance to report any abuse inflicted on them or someone they see.

The discussion was serious, but much needed. Only 15.6 percent of girls in Nigeria who experience sexual abuse know where to seek help, according to a study done by the Cece Yara Foundation. Dr. Yusuf’s talk helped encourage the girls to speak out about abuse and gave them the resources to seek help.

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Lastly, Safia Winifred Ahmadu, IVLP, gave a talk about social vices and peer pressure. Ahmadu explained to the girls the definition of social vices, and discussed how to avoid them. She encouraged the girls to leave situations they might be pressured into social vices, and told them to constantly be ambassadors of their homes and community.

International Day of the Girl means many different things to many different people. We are proud of our alumni for taking this day to celebrate and educate the young women in their community on such diverse topics.


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