Yejide Girl’s Grammar School, Ibadan, on Friday emerged the winner of the 2019 Goal Quiz, an initiative of Youth Empowerment Foundation (YEF).
NAN reports that St. Theresa’s College, Ibadan emerged second while Our Lady of Apostles, Ibadan, emerged third.
NAN reports that programme was sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank as part of its social corporate responsibility.
Nine schools from Ibadan participated in the competition. The schools are Queen of Apostles, Peoples Girl Grammar School, Our Lady of Apostles, Ibadan, St. Louis School, Onireke High School, Yejide Girl’s Grammar School, St. Theresa’s College, Ibadan, Queens School and St. Anne’s School.
Tolulope Osoba, the Programme Manager, told NAN that the competition was aimed at sharpening the competitive skills of girls.
Osoba said that YEF was using sport and life skills education to transform the lives of adolescent girls after which Yejide Girl’s Grammar School clinched top.
“The initiative was created by Standard Chartered Bank for girls between the ages of 12-18. We focus on life skills, health and hygiene, gender-based violence/rights and financial literacy.
“Goal programme is being implemented in 20 African and Asian countries. In Nigeria, it’s implemented by YEF in some schools in Lagos, Abuja and Ibadan.
“Goal started in Nigeria in 2010 with no fewer than 80,000 direct and indirect participants.
“We are bringing up girls to aim higher, we are empowering them to believe and know that they can be whatever they want to be.
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“The joy is seeing that these girls grow up and be what they want to be. We follow up on the girls even after completing their secondary school education. We want to see goal getters among the girl child.
“The girls we have here don’t have the mentality of getting jobs after their university education but rather to create jobs,” she said.
A beneficiary, Oluwafunto Oluwagbemi, told NAN that YEF had played a vital role in her formative years.
Oluwagbemi said that YEF had empowered her for life.
“ I have completed my secondary school and YEF has trained me in catering for six months. After my training, I got money to start my business.
“The money I got has indeed been very helpful. YEF is a very good initiative devoted to every aspect of a girl’s life.
“The society is biased against girls but YEF has instilled in us that we can be anything we set our minds to achieve irrespective of gender,” she said.
Cecilia Attah, a 12-year-old in Queen of Apostles Grammar School, Ibadan, said that her confidence got a boost after joining YEF.
“ I used to be shy and I am not anymore. YEF made me learn how to make peace and resolve conflicts. I was told how to say no to future destroyers.
” I have learnt leadership skills here and also taught to share knowledge with others so they can benefit from what I know,” she said.