Junior Achievement Nigeria has partnered with Union Bank to impact over 300 girls from the 6 Geopolitical zones across Nigeria, in the 21st edition of the Leadership Empowerment Achievement and Development (LEAD) Camp.
The 21st LEAD Camp program which was held from July 25th – 29th, 2022 was designed to inspire and prepare young girls in senior secondary schools to become high achieving leaders in a global economy.
For 8 consecutive years, Union Bank has partnered with Junior Achievement Nigeria to implement this program. The Camp, which aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 – Gender Equality currently has a long list of alumni leading in global sectors and making impact in various industries.
The week-long program had sessions facilitated by phenomenal women across different industries in the public and private sector including Foluso Gbadamosi, Tracy Atobatele, Ginika Frank-Durugbor, Lola Makanjuola, Tolu Michaels, Kunbi Odubogun, Eno Adesuwa Eworo, Simi Nwogugu, Ruth Ijaola, Nissi Ikenna-Amadi.
Others are: Femi Luther-Abegunde, Chioma Nwokike, Chidinma Okoli, Bernadette Ikhena, Kemi Onabanjo, Petra Erhiyoma, Ope Bukola, Dr. Toke Oke, Deborah Adeboyejo, Doris Mbadiwe, Enor Izomor, Kanyin Adio-Moses, Dr. Aniekan Makanjuola, Adetayo Otokiti, Ifeoluwa Obafemi, Roli Majiyagbe, Esther Agbenla, Bisola Badejo, Ayo Mairo-Ese, Onyiyechi Ekumankama, Mojibade Sosanya and Kilali David-West.
The girls were divided into different groups each led by a mentor where they were taken through intense engagements from leadership workshops to empowerment panel sessions spanning financial literacy, entrepreneurship, STEM classes, creative arts and entertainment and development session such as coding, understanding sexual abuse, personal hygiene.
The mentors were Iyanu-Oluwa Olusola, Faith Ilori, Oluwatosin Akintan, Vanessa Ojekwe, Favour Aiyegbeni and Sefunmi Kemisola DADA.
Speaking about the impact of the program, the Executive Director, Junior Achievement Nigeria, Foluso Gbadamosi said: “The Junior Achievement Nigeria LEAD Camp is a program that gives girls the permission to dream and an enabling environment to bring their aspirations to reality. During the week-long program, the girls were able to see and discuss with top women, liaise with their colleagues, challenge themselves and understand that everything they aspire to be is possible with the right mindset and environment.
“We are confident that the hundreds of girls impacted will in turn blossom to be high achieving leaders leading a global economy in years to come.
“We appreciate our lead sponsors, Union Bank for their continuous partnership, its 8 unwavering years of commitment and we are glad to continue with them. We are also grateful to our facilitators, staff, volunteers, and every friend of Junior Achievement Nigeria that supported in ensuring LEAD Camp 2022 was a success. Together, we continue to grow as change agents for our world to see and be.”
In her opening remarks, Chief Risk Officer, Union Bank, Olajumoke Odulaja said: ‘‘For us at Union Bank, gender equality is one of the SDGs that we are particularly passionate about and one that we actively contribute towards; because we truly believe that educating and developing the girl child will have a fundamental positive impact on our development as a nation.
“This is why we have partnered with Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN) on LEAD Camp for 8 consecutive years, and we couldn’t be more pleased and proud to see the impact of the program on the beneficiaries over the years.”
One of the outstanding participants, Blessing Attah from Victoria Island Secondary School said; “The five days at LEAD camp 2022 has shaped my life in different ways. It has improved my critical thinking skills, leadership strength, confidence to believe in myself, fuelled the passion to pursue my dreams and inspired me to set and achieve my goals.
“As I grow, I also intend to impact more girls with the need to think big, the need to be self-confident and to follow the path they are destined for in order to build a thriving world. Thank you Union Bank and Junior Achievement Nigeria for enabling my participation in LEAD Camp 2022 and other beneficiaries”