The Beyond the Classroom Foundation (BTCF) successfully concluded the ReIGNITE Girls in School Programme with a vibrant graduation ceremony held on Saturday, 24th January 2026, in the Kano community, celebrating 100 adolescent girls from four schools across Karu. The graduation coincided with the International Day of Education, underscoring the importance of keeping girls in school and empowering them to achieve their full potential.
The week-long programme, which ran from Monday, 19th January 2026 to Saturday, 24th January 2026, focused on building confidence, self-awareness, leadership skills, and healthy decision-making among in-school adolescent girls. Through interactive sessions, group activities, and mentorship discussions, the girls explored their strengths, challenged limiting beliefs, and developed actionable plans to positively impact their schools and communities.
Globally, millions of adolescent girls drop out of school every year due to lack of encouragement, societal pressures, and limited opportunities. Programmes like ReIGNITE Girls in School directly address these challenges by showing girls that they are capable, worthy, and have the power to lead. Over the course of the week, participants learned that leadership is not about titles or perfection, it is about making positive choices, inspiring others, and believing in their potential.
Speaking at the event, Adah Emmanuel, Project Manager, Beyond the Classroom Foundation, said:
“The ReIGNITE Girls in School Programme is about more than education; it’s about empowering girls to see their value, their voice, and their power to lead. We are proud of each of these 100 girls and the journey they have taken this week.”
Also present, Faith Okoro, Assistant Project Manager and Executive Assistant to the Executive Director of BTCF, emphasized the importance of creating safe and supportive spaces for girls:
“Programmes like ReIGNITE show us that when girls are encouraged and supported, they can achieve remarkable things, not just in school, but in their communities and beyond.”
Raquel Kasham Daniel, Founder of Beyond the Classroom Foundation, also addressed the participants, inspiring them to carry the lessons from the programme forward:
“Every girl here has the potential to lead and create positive change. This week is just the beginning of your journey to becoming confident, capable changemakers.”
The programme was facilitated by a dedicated team of 19 trainers, including Christy Onogwu, Idongesit Essienobong, Morenikejimi Olaniran, Mayowa Adegbile, Aderonke Olisa, Excel Ogaba, and many others who led sessions on self-awareness, leadership, and overcoming limiting beliefs, ensuring that every girl left the week with skills, knowledge, and confidence to thrive.
This initiative is part of the Beyond Her Odds Initiative, a BTCF programme supported by the IGNITE Consortium, which works to promote adolescent girls’ education, protection, and empowerment across multiple communities.
The Beyond the Classroom Foundation remains committed to creating opportunities, safe spaces, and mentorship programmes for adolescent girls, empowering them to pursue education, leadership, and personal growth, showing that with guidance, support, and encouragement, girls can truly be all they aspire to be.
