In a race for financial inclusion, SKY Girls penetrates Nigeria’s market

SKY Girls, a Pan African empowerment movement has launched in Nigeria in a bid to increase financial inclusion for teen girls between the ages of 12-19.

The event which took place on Saturday in Lagos state was attended and endorsed by Folashade Adefisayo, Commissioner for Education, Lagos.

The girl focused movement, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was first launched in 2014 in Botswana and now active in Ghana, Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire, Zambia and Nigeria.

It focuses on creating edutainment content for teenage girls in order to empower them and increase their resilience and confidence.

We are expanding financial inclusion in Nigeria so that young girls can understand the role it plays in finance and their lives, says Alice Railton, SKY Girls Market Lead, Ghana and Nigeria.

“We are building the movement now by getting them involved through financial awareness so that they can start to have the understanding and the importance of savings later in life,” Railton said.

She also added that a lot of the girls we have spoken to can start saving, budgeting and understanding the importance of it. “There is so much inequality for girls and women in that area. So, we are trying to correct that.”

The initiative would include messaging around financial decision-making, education and knowledge, to improve the girls and their families overall future life skills.

Apart from providing them with financial education, the movement would also reduce tobacco uptake.

“The movement is fuelled by its desire to reduce the worrying uptake of tobacco amongst adolescent girls by reaching girls through multiple online and offline channels, from magazines, social media, radio, TV shows, feature-length films, school clubs and community events,” said Adenike Odutola, General Manager Operations, 7even Interactive for SKY Girls Nigeria

“Within this platform and through role models, SKY integrates tobacco messaging in such a way as to make NOT SMOKING the aspirational choice,” Odutola further added.

Adefisayo applauded the programme for the laudable feat and encouraged young girls and their parents to take advantage of the various opportunities tied to the initiative.

“It is impossible to quantify the magnitude of importance of such a programme in today’s world. The odds are often stacked against young girls in developing countries, but here, SKY is showing the girls while still in their formative years how to be more confident and make positive decisions that would potentially set their lives towards the right trajectory.

I invite parents and guardians to avail their teenage girls the chance to be a part of this programme. We might not be able to change the world in an instant, but we can do so, one girl child at a time.”

Buisnessday

Fred, Fernandes lead Man United to dominant win over Tottenham

Manchester United moved within a point of the Premier League's top four after a dominant 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Grizzlies 115, Knicks 112 (OT): Scenes from the return of Knicks-related heartbreak

The Knicks are back, friends! And so is the requisite heartbreak that comes with watching the Knicks. Our guys fought their hearts out in the second half, erasing a 19-point deficit on the road against a superior foe. They managed to send the game into overtime with a clutch three from a resurgent Cam Reddish.

Nets lose opener to Pelicans, 130-108, as Ben Simmons fouls out with 4 points

Things did not go as planned. The Brooklyn Nets got walloped in the season opener, 130-108, by the New Orleans Pelicans despite Kevin Durant’s 32 points on just 21 shots.

Zion scores 25 points in return, Pelicans rout Nets

Zion Williamson resumed his assault on backboards and basketball players, leaving both at the mercy of his skills and strength.

“It’s like he didn’t miss a beat,” New Orleans coach Willie Green said. “You just throw the ball to him and watch what he does.”