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.
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.
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.
Meet the Team
Leadership
Hauwa Balami
Co-founder
Hauwa Balami
Co-founder
"You love reading and been in school forever" people say to me but the honest truth it's not forever. As a kid I dreamt of being a medical doctor, and I've been lucky to get there with the support of my family and everyone around me. My journey has been unstoppable and each day daring with unlimited opportunities. I want every girl child in Nigeria to get the same. It's not about reading but it's knowing that once your zeal meets opportunity you can achieve anything. The sky is the limit and at Give Girls A Chance we would create that opportunity to educate every girl child.
Uloma
Ogba
Co-founder
Uloma
Ogba
Co-founder
I loved being in school, and sometimes wish I could go back. I’ve been fortunate enough to have parents and a community that recognized and supported my right to have the best education possible. And that has gotten me to where I am today, working as a Managing Consultant for MarketShare Associates. Give Girls A Chance is our way of giving back to our country and fighting to ensure that as many Nigerian girls as possible have access to a better and brighter future by receiving a quality education.
Advisory Board
Kabir Adamu
Managing Director,
Beacon Consulting Ltd.
Kabir Adamu
Managing Director,
Beacon Consulting Ltd.
Kabir Adamu is the Managing Director of Beacon Consulting Limited, a renowned firm providing enterprise risk and security management solutions in Nigeria and the Sahel region. Kabir is a dynamic and professional security and intelligence executive with a sound track record in the public and private including humanitarian and development sectors. He is experienced in security consultancy and project management at the multinational level and has supported clients with operations in hostile, challenging and complex environments.
Akanni Damilola
Youth Development & Education Advocate
Akanni Damilola
Youth Development & Education Advocate
Akanni Damilola is a young leader and passionate advocate for education, gender equality, and youth development, with hands-on experience across programs in SGBV prevention, climate action, and policy advocacy. She has reached over 5,000 girls across Lagos, Ogun, Kwara, and the Federal Capital Territory, coordinating empowerment initiatives and representing youth voices on national and international platforms. Motivated by a strong commitment to challenging stereotypes and dismantling patriarchy, she is dedicated to advancing girls' education and opportunity across Nigeria.
Moni
Baruwa
Strategic & Impact Leader
Moni
Baruwa
Strategic & Impact Leader
Moni Baruwa is a visionary leader with 12 years of experience across consulting, tech startups, and operational leadership roles spanning multiple industries. She specializes in translating strategy into scalable execution, having helped social impact enterprises champion their missions through curated events, advocacy initiatives, and strategic corporate partnerships. She is passionate about empowering people and organizations, and looks forward to helping GGAC navigate long-term sustainability and unlock new resource opportunities.
Kemi
Yusuf
Vice President of International Strategy and Safety Operations, AbbVie
Kemi
Yusuf
Vice President of International Strategy and Safety Operations, AbbVie
Kemi Yusuf is the Vice President of International Strategy and Safety Operations at AbbVie, a global biopharmaceutical company, where she leads pharmacovigilance operations across more than 45 countries. Prior to AbbVie, she worked at Deloitte Consulting and Accenture, advising C-suite executives on strategy and organizational transformation. Born and raised in Nigeria, she has witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of education and mentorship, and is passionate about helping the next generation of young women realize their full potential.
Boluwatife Ojikutu
Legal & Tax Professional
Boluwatife Ojikutu
Legal & Tax Professional
Boluwatife Ojikutu is a qualified legal practitioner and tax professional with expertise advising multinational organizations on complex tax and regulatory matters in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. She has been an active volunteer with Slum2School Africa for over a decade, supporting initiatives that expand access to education for underserved children, alongside human rights research and World Bank publications. A lover of art, design, and culture, Bolu is passionate about using creativity and continuous learning to drive positive change for girls' education.