Educating Nigerian Girls in New Enterprises (ENGINE) is a 3years (2017-2020) DFID Girl Education Challenge (GEC) funded program targeting 18,000 marginalized adolescent girls. Mercy Corps leads the implementation of ENGINE II in Nigeria, working with partners across the four target states: Society for Women Development and Empowerment of Nigeria (SWODEN) in Kano, Action Health Incorporated (AHI) in Lagos, Kindling Hope Across Nations Initiative (KHAN) in Kaduna and Tabitha Cumi Foundation (TCF) in the Federal Capital Territory.

In the FCT, we worked with 1883 direct beneficiaries in school and out of school across 29 schools and 27 communities in AMAC and Bwari Area Councils, delivering interventions for improved learning outcomes, enhanced economic opportunities, improved policies and practices benefiting girls. The program was implemented through In school and out of school learning sessions, vocational training and business expansion activities as well as extensive stakeholders engagements made from the community, state and national levels.

Mercy Corps Program Director Joy Aderele led the FCT ENGINE II team (TCF) in activities to close out the just concluded girls education program funded by FCDO formerly DFID and to also commemorate the International Day Of The Girl Child 2020 with the theme “My Voice ,Our Equal Future”.

It was a day set apart to raise our voices in support of the future of adolescent girls in Nigeria. Events of the day started with a press conference to disseminate program findings.
Presentations were made on implementation, lessons learnt, FCT success stories and dissemination of end line findings. Stakeholders and participants also had the opportunity to share experiences on impact of ENGINE II.

The high point of the event was the keynote address by veteran newscaster Mrs Eugenia Abu who stirred the attendees to raise our voices and actions in support of the Nigerian girl. An exhibition of ENGINE II photographs, learning materials, arts and crafts took place after the event.

The event was attended by the representative of the Hon Minister of Women Affairs Dame Pauline Tallen,Director Child Development , Mrs Jummai Mohammed and other Stakeholders NMEC, FCT Education Secretariat, Department for Mass Education( DME),Secondary Education Board(SEB),Universal Basic Education Board( UBEB), International Federation of Female Lawyers(FIDA) Non-governmental Association For Literacy Support Services ,NOGAALS and community stakeholders were well represented.