By Abbas Bamalli
Finpact Development Foundation (FINDEF), in partnership with UNICEF, has empowered 1,950 adolescent girls in Katsina with skills for financial independence and tools to address Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
The initiative, facilitated by the ‘REACH Project’ funded by UNICEF Nigeria, targets the intersecting challenges of poverty, educational exclusion, and Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Ms. Sadiya Badamasi, a representative of FINDEF, disclosed this achievement in Katsina on Saturday.
She explained that the second phase of the REACH Project, which was based in Rimi, Mani, and Katsina Local Government Areas, equipped out-of-school adolescent girls with practical skills.
These, she said included knitting, crochet, henna design, cap making, and throw pillow production, all of which were in high demand.
“This initiative has empowered 1,950 adolescent girls by fostering financial independence and providing a lifeline to survivors of GBV,” she said.
Badamasi further noted that about 800 of the participants had received refresher courses, honing their skills and positioning them as peer mentors to guide newcomers.
“In addition to skills acquisition, FINDEF’s approach has provided hope and healing to more than 750 survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, offering both psychosocial support and sustainable livelihood skills to aid their recovery and resilience.
“Local trainers and community leaders have been key to ensuring the programme’s sustainability, creating a ripple effect of empowerment across Katsina State,” she added.
She emphasised that the REACH Project was more than just a skills programme; it was a movement aimed at restoring dignity, rebuilding confidence, and unlocking the potential of adolescent girls who had been left behind.
She said that the project also empowered an additional 400 girls, giving them not only trade skills but the power to shape their futures and uplift their communities.
“This reflects FINDEF’s commitment to safeguarding the rights of adolescent girls and breaking the cycle of gender inequality and economic exclusion,” Badamasi said.
She called on government agencies, development partners, and stakeholders to join in addressing the root causes of these challenges and to scale up efforts to reach more vulnerable girls across Nigeria.
Meanwhile, several beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to FINDEF and UNICEF for the opportunity to achieve financial independence and recover from past traumas.
NAN
