FerGirl Initiative

Some active voluntary members of FerGirl team on an Independence Day campaign in 2021

In secondary school I was in Press Club. In NYSC orientation camp, I volunteered in the Orientation Broadcasting Service (OBS). During my service year I was in the Publicity and Editorial CDS (community development service) group.

In these associations, we had routine activities that I found fun and education: In Press Club we researched trending and relevant news and presented them as journalists and newscasters at the assembly ground weekly; as a day and boarding mix, it was a source of fun and latest gists to the boarding students who eagerly looked forward to news days. At OBS we presented news and information in studio artistry, bringing momentum and triggering camp-wide discussions in typical banters, chaos, and perspectives inside the confinement. At Publicity and Editorial CDS we presented news, debates, dramas, entertainment and lifestyle activities. Whilst superbly entertaining, the education was the trophy.

There are things you just execute speedily on inspiration. So I began.

One at St. Theresa's Girls' School, a cool girls' school: landscaped terrain, cool classrooms with white boards and markers, a contrast to the black charcoal boards that dominated most schools around here where students would from time to time attempt to re-darken with charcoal fetched from their firewood hearths at home.

In my primary and secondary school days, we took risks of breaking used batteries to get the lead and add it to the charcoal mix as we believed that it helped the darken-ness last longer.

There was no strategy. Just a restless impact-driven girl on a mission to make small acts of societal good.

I felt I had enough to share and do not have to wait before doing the small things capable of systemic shifts.

The principal a Reverend Sister was excited for our mission, and welcomed us most heartily. With gifts too. She had been waiting for moments like this. She wanted a safe role-modelling for her girls, especially at the normative teen ages. Because? All role models don't have to be the TV ladies, or the online celebrities.

What prepping did Sr. give in expectations for our visit? Because we had just stepped into the school environment, when it erupted in welcome screams. That one visit was a green flag. A signal. It unbundled a whole lot of perspective to my impact drive: There was the need in the community. There was the hunger in the girls. We can make this a thing. That birthed FerGirl.

I remember having a time on the naming. What name suits this initiative where you want to build wholesome girls that hungers, works, tarries, becoming the model for a healthy than shorted path? FerGirl's mindset is Beautiful. Highly ambitious. Super healthy and safe.

Well, well. After the motivating outing and the initiative naming, I developed a plan and a budget. My own funds. No drama. No branding. No stories speaking louder than the works. Just moves, and satisfaction from the affirmations I received. And it became a thing across more schools: Afungiri Girls' School, Holy Rosary Girls, Federal Girls, and the school I served in — Methodist Girls.

The Pilot

We launched at Methodist Girls High School, Umueze. An invigorating club forum was sat and structured to develop listening, speaking and critical thinking skills, with each meet leaving girls chuffed and looking forward to the next. Some approaches we used:

Public forum discussion — we gathered without prior selection. Then girls are randomly split into two sides. A coin is tossed to decide which side proposes and defends a trending topic.

Policy debate — imagining that they were Policy Makers, Ministers/Heads of Parastatals, they pair up to propose a policy. Thereafter split into an affirmative team who supports the policy, and a negative team who rejects the policy.

Tagged Teaming — girls are taught that teams wins with a cohesive voice. So a speaker finishes speaking, and spontaneously tags any member of the team to pick up and continue. Delaying, or speaking disjointedly earned the team some negative scores.

Inner Circle / Outer Circle — one group discusses, the other listens. After listening, the outer circle shares views and criticisms. Roles switch and repeat.

Four Corners Discussion — opinions drawn into Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree. No neutral. Students move to their chosen opinion corner, discuss motives and intent, get a chance to reconsider, then nominate a group secretary to present their defence.

On scheduled days, some are already at the staff room calling my attention. Other days, they are coming to have a one-on-one sharing their view points. This culminated in a school-wide debate competition which was hitherto non-existent. We had a junior and a senior category competition.

We had more activities with the Ministry Of Women Affairs to execute events in Umuahia and Aba, and Partnered with the Ministry of Youths and Sports Development in the Abia Girl's Inter local government football tournament. From awareness to execution, and at the grand finale supported over 200 girls with 20 cartons of sanitary packages.

Girls' Digital School

This initiative was led from feedback during our girls' outreaches. Most senior graduating girls, especially the ones from the poorer community schools said that they are unable to further to universities after their secondary just like I was. I advised them on taking up digital skills like I did, and I proceeded to survey their skillsets of interest.

Their response included many artisanal skills: braiding, sewing, soap making, baking, and the likes. These skills at the core are amazing. However, there were barely ambitions in their undertone. Some mentioned they would go on to take up kiosk sales roles aka sales girls. There were others who particularly confided to me that their families are most likely to get them married off.

One in particular would have my number and call to complain that she'd been reluctant to get along with her family's plan of getting her married, but is now more certain than ever that she'll not, and if they tried to coerce her as is mostly the case with poorer rural families, she would leave home.

Leaving home? Hmmm, reminiscing that conversation added to some experiences I would have while attempting to relocate would lead to the current problem theme that FerGirl would now be handling moving ahead ...

Actually, the reason why they'd not mentioned any digital skills was that about 90% of them had little to no idea about digital and tech skills, and even remote working. I gave a preface into digital skillsets like designs, data analysis, digital marketing, coding and their prospects. You could see their fascination in awe of the newly acquired career information. This ushered the plan for a digital school.

I created information pamphlets. Reached more schools and created more awareness. Had practically the entire senior students across the visited schools excited for it. After I'd secured the girls' interest, I developed a comprehensive course training module in stages — beginner and advanced. The beginner class at no cost to the girls.

That is my mission: provide education and help to underprivileged determined, intelligent and ambitious girls at no cost of their own. I personally bear this cost.

However, for the advanced classes to be rigorous and have the satisfactory result of worthwhile career impact, we have to employ a team of dedicated and experienced tutors. This can not be run out of my pocket. It most definitely have to be sponsor/donor-led. The operational model is simply not-for-profit.

I prospected for partners, harnessed my existing relationship with the Diaspora office, more Parastatals, and VIPs. This initiative reached wider people. That was how the US Statistics & Maths Professor reached out. We discussed the girls' digital school. He discussed his company Hostclass and the vision with me. He eventually invited me to join him.

Prior to this, Archbishop Opoko of the Methodist Church was sold on my charities mission and the promise that they hold. He invited and asked me to prepare an op plan and NGO incorporation with him on the board for us to go all out and build it.

I was now at a crossroad.

Pursue the charity gender-led mission with one of Eastern Nigeria's most reputed Archbishops? Or pursue the edtech enterprise with a US Professor?

As you well know; if you've seen my work history, I pursued Hostclass. My core regret is not having a success evidence here. Still I learned, got many firsts, and transformed - even though with sprinkles of drudgery especially after I lost a promising benefactor and sponsor relative.

Ordo ab chao.

Order and clarity that transcends chaos.

He wanted me to join more of his ventures. I worked, learned, and moved to focus on building Enterprise Suite with the wealth of lessons and experience gained from transforming 9Mile a cooperative into 9Mileon a fintech, driving brand and user acquisition across Hostclass and 9Mileon. And now out-doing myself in the hands-on product development, with palpable precision from the experience gained funding solo and small business operators as 9Mileon Co-founder.

With Papa, Archbishop Opoko.

One of those days forging the ore.

IfyJoes Foundation

In loving memory of Late Miss Josephine Osondu. The valued founder and visionary of IfyJoes Foundation. A warrior who healed with her pains. She lived!

As the Media/Outreach Designer & Strategist, I worked closely with the visionary Founder of IfyJoes Foundation to develop outreach plans, create media and print designs, and manage partnership engagements. Our mission was to provide care and support to sickle cell warriors, and create awareness to reduce sickle cell prevalence.

Through my contribution:

We created awareness in over 20 schools, and worked closely with 5 hospitals in sickle cell education. Partnered with both local and international NGOs including Vicar Hope Foundation where we conducted free genotype tests for over a 1,000 persons in Abia State.

Held monthly physical warriors circle filled with hearty talks, games, meals, and routine drugs support at each meet up. Had media partnerships who amplified our impact, reaching tens of thousands live, on-air, and online.

Our 3-year survey analysis revealed 90% increase in sickle cell awareness, reducing sickle cell prevalence by over 70% by 2040.

My experience caring and witnessing the warriors' highs and lows including crisis emergencies deepened my perspective about life, and impact work in general.

Arochukwu Digital Skills Training

It was my pleasure being invited to travel down to a village in Arochukwu for a digital program simply aimed at digital awareness and inclusion for youngsters living in the rural areas, as those in the rural areas are way behind in digital and technology career paths.

The convener was the then Special Adviser to the Governor on Gender Affairs, sponsored by the Lawmaker Representing Arochukwu Federal Constituency, and others: a one week intensive and practical series adapted to meet their lifestyle and knowledge levels. Photography & videography. Designing. Multi-media cultural storytelling. I delivered series on designing, and was deeply moved witnessing the community learners' sheer joy and excitement at seeing shapes and colours turn to objects of interest.

Thereafter, they were enlisted to receive digital devices, starting capital, and a group which I was a part of was created for feedback and continual mentorship.