Finland’s support for girls’ education in Nigeria has reached an important milestone, with 18 young women completing six years of secondary education through an initiative supported by the Embassy of Finland and She Forum Africa.
The graduates of The KNOSK N100-a-day Secondary School in Kuje were recently welcomed to the Embassy of Finland in Abuja by Finland’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Sanna Selin. The meeting provided an opportunity to celebrate their academic achievements and hear about their ambitions for the future.
The students were among 25 girls who received support in 2020 through the “Her Tuition, Her Voice” campaign, an initiative organised with support from the Embassy of Finland and She Forum Africa. The campaign aimed to help girls from disadvantaged backgrounds gain access to secondary education.
Six years after the initiative began, 18 of the original 25 students have completed their secondary education and graduated. Their achievement marks a significant outcome for a programme designed to give young women access to educational opportunities that might otherwise have been beyond their reach.
The students attended The KNOSK N100-a-day Secondary School in Kuje, an institution that provides skills-based secondary education to children from some of Nigeria’s poorest households, including children who have previously been out of school.
The graduates also shared their ambitions during their visit to the Finnish Embassy. Their career aspirations include becoming lawyers, business professionals, artists and professional athletes. These goals reflect the different paths they hope to pursue after completing their education.
For Finland, supporting girls’ education is part of its wider commitment to women’s rights, gender equality and equal opportunities internationally. The country’s involvement in the Nigerian initiative reflects its position that access to education is important in giving girls and young women greater opportunities to participate in society and make decisions about their futures.
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This commitment also features in Finland’s campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2029-2030 term. Under the priorities of Peace, People and Partnerships, Finland has highlighted the importance of including women and young people in leadership and decision-making, particularly in efforts to build peaceful and resilient societies.
The Embassy of Finland also recognised the contributions of Irene Bangwell and Kingsley Bangwell, founders of KNOSK, and Inimfon Etuk, founder of She Forum Africa, whose work helped make the campaign possible.
While seven of the 25 girls supported through the original initiative have not been confirmed among the graduates, the completion of secondary education by 18 participants represents a meaningful achievement for the programme. For the young women, it is also a starting point for pursuing the professional ambitions they shared during their meeting with Finland’s ambassador.
