WIMBIZ kicks off “Big Sister Programme”
By Felicia Nwosu
In fulfilment of its corporate social responsibility in mentoring, empowering and equipping young women in the society and as part of activities lined up in preparation for its 20th Annual Conference, Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) has the kicked off of the WIMBIZ Big Sister Programme, across six different parts of Nigeria. The Big Sister Program is targeted at girls between the ages of 13 & 17 in select secondary schools to herald the main conference that will be coming up between 4th and 5th November, 2021.
The high octave event, which kicked off in Lagos, held simultaneously at two different secondary schools, including the New Era Girls Senior Secondary School, Surulere and Girls Secondary Grammar School, Ikoyi. It was an exciting and interactive moment filled with educative activities as the students of New Era Girls Senior Secondary School, Shitta, Surulere, Lagos, were mentored on different topics revolving around self-discovery in defining and achieving life goals while building self-confidence, entrepreneurial skills, leadership capacity, personal values and relationships, all aimed at building a strong exceptional female leadership in every sphere of human endeavour.
Commending the initiative, Principal of New Era Girls Senior Secondary school, Mrs. Victoria Makinde, represented by the Vice Principal, Mr. Akinola Olumide, expressed her excitement with the life impacting initiative, while describing as an exceptional in the life of the girls. “We are so happy; it is an opportunity for us as a school. Though we have been having so many organisations and NGO’s coming to mentor students here, but this is a special one because most of the girls have been looking forward to this type of programme that revolves around every sphere of life.”
Some of the students also shared the exciting moment, adding that it is apt and very beneficial in helping them to refocus the lenses towards their future. Chioma Iheanyi, a student, revealed that the Big Sister program has helped her to rediscover her career path. “I really enjoyed the programme, especially on the topic on how to identity career path. I used to be very confused on which career to choose, but with this Big Sister program, I know I am born to be an outstanding teacher in the future.”
Another student, Jalaoso Wajudat, said the event has inspired her on how to plan and budget better. “With the knowledge I got today, I have learnt how to budget and save, no matter how small, for the future.”
Elaborating on the program, Mrs. Hansatu Adegbite, Executive Director of WIMBIZ, reaffirmed that the girl-child is confronted with various challenges induced by poverty and economic downturn, noting that the Big Sister program centres its pillars on mitigating such challenges by providing succour through mentorship support, financial and various empowerment to help the female child attain her dream.
“Hopefully, you know everything in life requires monitoring, evaluation, effective communication system and also consistency in reaching out to the girls. It is our hope that in the future, with support, we will be able to give some of these girls, even when they graduate, the opportunity to intern in some of these organisations. We are looking for people who can adopt these girls as sponsors and mentors of their careers – that, I believe, are one of our hopes.”
The programme was also witnessed by officials from the Lagos State Ministry of Education (Basic Education Services Department), Mrs. Ibrahim Khadijat and Mr. Adesoye Olamilekan, who declined interview.
About 400 students participated from New Era Girls Senior Secondary school, Shitta, in Surulere, Lagos. The high point of the event was the presentation of certificate of participation to the students.
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