​In Nigeria, less than half of all school-age girls are enrolled in, and graduate, from school. At Give Girls A Chance (GGAC), we believe that educating girls is the single most powerful investment to shape a better future for Nigeria. We started in 2016 with the goal of increasing young girls’ access to quality education in Nigeria. Our team of dedicated mentors and volunteers work directly with girls in four secondary school in the Abuja area, providing scholarships, mentorships, and guidance. We aim to do this by addressing issues related to lack of access, low levels of awareness of the importance of education, and poor infrastructure of educational institutions.
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In Nigeria, less than half of all school-age girls are enrolled in, and graduate, from school. At Give Girls A Chance (GGAC), we believe that educating girls is the single most powerful investment to shape a better future for Nigeria. We started in 2016 with the goal of increasing young girls’ access to quality education in Nigeria. Our team of dedicated mentors and volunteers work directly with girls in four secondary school in the Abuja area, providing scholarships, mentorships, and guidance.
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EDUCATE
We partner with schools, sponsors, and local organizations to equip the girls with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to succeed
MENTOR
We link the girls in our programs to qualified and capable mentors to improve their physical, mental, and social well-being
EMPOWER
We offer programs and scholarships to improve comprehension and literacy levels and emphasize the benefits of getting a quality education
Our approach is to provide comprehensive support to girls between the ages of 10 and 19 years from low-income families as well as to systematically develop the schools in the communities in which we work.
GGAC Essay Competition
2024 Contest Overview
Celebrate International Day of the Girl Child with the 8th Annual Give Girls A Chance Essay Competition!
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In honor of the International Day of the Girl Child on October 11, we’re thrilled to announce the 8th annual Give Girls A Chance Essay Competition! This day celebrates the empowerment of girls and highlights their crucial role in shaping a brighter future. This year’s theme, “Girls' Vision for the Future,” encourages young girls to imagine a world where they can break free from traditional constraints and boldly pursue their dreams. 🌟
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Essay Topic: "Challenging Patriarchal Norms: The Role of Girls in Dismantling Deeply Rooted Gender Inequalities"
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Problem Statement: In many communities, deeply embedded patriarchal norms limit girls’ access to education and equal opportunities. This essay topic encourages participants to explore how these norms affect girls’ potential and the steps needed to create a more equitable environment. We encourage participants to discuss societal and cultural challenges, such as:
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Traditional Gender Roles: Prioritizing household duties over education for girls.
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Stereotypes and Discrimination: Depicting girls as less capable than boys, leading to unequal opportunities.
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Educational Barriers: Girls face limited access to quality education, early marriage, and health and safety concerns.
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Essay Question: Imagine you are the director of an NGO focused on girls' education and empowerment. Discuss the importance of challenging patriarchal norms in your community and its impact on girls’ lives. Outline programs and initiatives your NGO could implement to help girls overcome these barriers and encourage them to take on leadership roles. Consider how these efforts contribute to gender equality and a more inclusive society.
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Eligibility:
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Nigerian girls between the ages of 13-19
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The essay must be written English and have up to 2,000 words
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Essays should be properly cited. Plagiarism will result in automatic disqualification
Selection: The Essay will be reviewed by a panel of independent judges. The panel will be evaluating all submissions according to three criteria:
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the quality of your arguments
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grammar and vocabulary, and
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the overall flow of your essay
Number of Awardees: 3
Value of Competition: The essay competition offers recognition and financial awards.
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The best three essays will be published on the Give Girls A Chance website
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The author of the best essay will receive 50,000 Naira. The second and third place winners will be awarded 30,000 Naira and 20,000 Naira, respectively.
How to Apply: Please submit your essay to info@givegirlsachanceng.org on or before November 17, 2024. The finalists will be notified by December 15, 2024, and the awards will be presented virtually or in person (in Abuja).
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​This is your chance to share your ideas on how girls can build a brighter future and lead change in their communities. At Give Girls A Chance, we believe in the power of girls to break barriers and create lasting impact. We look forward to reading your inspiring essays!
About the Competition
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The Give Girls A Chance Essay Competition is implemented as part of the Give Girls A Chance Foundations effort aimed at increasing access to quality education for the Nigerian girl child. The goal of this Competition is to give young Nigerian girls the opportunity to develop constructive and innovative ideas to address existing development challenges in Nigeria. The seventh edition, this competition aims to support the voice and agency of young Nigerian girls, whilst leveraging the ideas and innovations led by young people in tackling some of the challenges facing Nigeria.
Meet Past Winners
2022 First Place
Akinde Morayo (15 years old)
The Pillars Model College, Ifo, Ogun State
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“Gender plays a big role to digital generation in Nigeria. Girls and women have less access to technology and the internet compared to boys and men. The gender digital divide in access to the internet remains largest in the world’s least developed countries at 32.9%, yes I’ve done my research on that....Nigerians have a stereotype of grooming girls just to be wives, how they’re expected to act, speak, dress and conduct themselves based upon their gender.”
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