WIMBIZ holds mentorship program in Lagos, empowers school girls for nation building
By Oghale Mafuru
Ahead of its 20th annual conference, Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) today, held a mentorship program aimed at developing and empowering young girls in public secondary schools with the requisite knowledge and tools to excel in life.
The one week program tagged “Big Sister Program”, which aims to deepen the core mandate of WIMBIZ in ensuring that more women attain leadership positions in all facets of life, held in several parts of the country.
To welcome delegates of the association and representatives from the Lagos State government, the principal, Girls’ Senior Secondary Grammar School, Obalende, Ikoyi, Lagos, Mrs. Omotoye Bamidele who was elated commended WIMBIZ for working relentlessly for the wholesome development of the girl child, noting that to ensure that more women attain the highest level in every human endeavour, it is imperative that they develop skills and capacities to attain set goals.
Delivering an address at the event, First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Ibijoko Sanwo-Olu, represented by wife of the Special Adviser to Mr. Governor on Education, Mrs. Oluwatosin Wahab lauded WIMBIZ for the impressive work done to reshape the mindset of girls for future endeavours.
She said: “Since the launch of the BSP Program in 2016, which is a mentorship initiative for girls in Senior Secondary school, it is noteworthy that teenage girls have been positively impacted, while the female network of WINBIZ has been deployed to influence the girls by boosting their confidence and leadership capacity.”
The First Lady, who asserted that the female child deserves a life where she is treated as equal to a boy, averred that the girl child should be respected, loved, and given a chance to rule like their male counterpart.
Speaking to the girls passionately, Chairman Board of Trustees, WIMBIZ, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ighodalo charged them to shun peer pressure and work hard to achieve their dreams.
In her words: “You have to be true to yourself. You have to know who you are. You have to work hard and also smart. When you have problem, seek help and counsel from your teachers, principals and your big sisters. Seek help from the right places not where will put you in trouble.”
Restating the association’s objectives, Ngover Ihyembe Nwankwo, Chairperson, WIMBIZ Executive Council, disclosed that the association is built on four pillars, which include to inspire, empower, connect and advocate, adding that the “Big Sister Program” was birthed five years ago to deepen its impact on young girls.
To shed light into what the program entails, Chair, Big Sister Program, Awuneba Ajumogobia said the program, which will avail participants the opportunity to learn valuable skills that will reshape their mindsets, will also inculcate certain values needed to attain success.
In her words: “We are holding the Big Sister Program, a mentorship program where WIMBIZ members who are associates come and share a curriculum with the girls and share their experiences. The subjects they cover include financial literacy, careers, entrepreneurship, self confidence, personal hygiene, interpersonal skills among others.”
She added: “What we hope to achieve is a shift in mindset. We are hoping that every single girl that attends the program today goes home with a shifted mindset in terms of what they can accomplish and how to get there. Goal setting is an important aspect. The goal setting module is the one that actually brings it alive. It helps the girl document tangible stuffs to be able to achieve their aspirations.”
Some of the girls who benefitted from the mentorship program expressed appreciation to WIMBIZ pledging to deploy all the skills and knowledge acquired to attain their life goals and purpose.
One of the students, Umar Aishat said: “This program is an interesting one and very educative. The organization has empowered us. We appreciate their support and we would not let them down.”
Another student, Ngbede Rejoice said: “I want to say a big thank you to WIMBIZ for coming to my school. I have learnt so many things from the Big Sisters. I have learnt to always be true to myself and know who I am. I should be responsible and don’t take no for an answer. I have also learnt to be confident so I can earn my respect.”
Certificate of participation was awarded to the girls at the end of the program.
Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) is a non-profit organization that has, over the last 20 years, implemented programs that inspire, empower and advocate for greater representation of women in leadership positions in the public and private sector.
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