RIRI OKOYE: RAISING CONFIDENT GIRLS INITIATIVE BECOMES NGO

Tuesday 15 November 2016

RAISING CONFIDENT GIRLS INITIATIVE BECOMES NGO - WHOOP WHOOP

What started as on online movement has now metamorphosed into the NGO – Raising Confident Girls Initiative!

Raising Confident Girls Initiative (RGCI) was founded in September 2014 by RiRi Okoye. It has become a valuable resource and has an online membership of 13,000 and growing daily from all across the world.

The movement recently evolved into a registered Non-Government Organisation (NGO) in Nigeria. The admin team are based in Lagos and London respectively and include RiRi Okoye, Ladi Chapman, Damie Onasanya, Yinka Enahoro, Ifeoma Okoye Agbasi and Bonita Olugh.

There are several issues with raising girls in the 21st century and the movement intends to tackle them. The desire of RCGI is to empower girls and provide support and solutions to those challenges.

In 2014, RCGI invited over 80 girls between the ages of 8 to 14 across Lagos to its 1^st Girls tea party at Teeky Events & Arena Lekki. The theme of the event was Valuable YOU. Girls left the program feeling confident, empowered and inspired knowing that are valuable and can present themselves effectively anywhere in the world.

First Raising Confident Girls event held in 2014

Speaking about Confidence at Selfworth Network Event

RCGI realise that it takes a village to raise a girl and so the Admin team met up with members in London and Lagos to thank them for their valuable contributions to the initiative. Aside from Annual programs for girls and members, there are plans to host regular meets and greets across the globe where possible.

Recently two members of the initiative, Rita Okoye and Yinka Enahoro were invited to empower and inspire girls at Queens College School in Yaba as part of class of 86, give back to the school. The event proved very successful. It highlighted the need to expand such talks with other schools, groups, churches and communities in Lagos and across Nigeria. The initiative plan to deliver a range of Confident themed events each year in Nigeria. They are keen to partner with brands who also support have similar visions.

Speaking Engagement at Queens College Lagos

The long-term goal is to provide a wide range of resources such as books, educational material, empowerment events, apprenticeship opportunities, educational sponsorships and mentoring, just to mention a few. Raising Confident Girls Initiative look forward to engaging and partnering with various sectors to build the girl child with confidence.