Uloma Ogba is the Cofounder and Executive Director of Give Girls A Chance which is dedicated to support young women in Nigeria.
IM: (Identities Media)
UO:( Uloma Ogba)
IM : Tell us about yourself.
UO: My name is Uloma Ogba, and I am the Cofounder and Executive Director of Give Girls A Chance (GGAC), a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting underserved girls and young women in Nigeria through scholarships and mentoring, and a mix of supplemental initiatives including literacy, science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM), vocational skills training and menstrual hygiene management programs. Inspired by the words of the late Nelson Mandela that, “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”.
I’m committed to ensuring that as many girls and young women are able to access a quality education and skills training that could potentially transform their lives and prepare them to become productive and responsible citizens in the future. To date, GGAC has funded and mentored over 100 girls and young women, reached an additional 2,000 girls and built the capacity of 5 schools through its supplemental initiatives. I was brought up in a household where education was very important and taught to be powerful. After graduating from high school in Nigeria, I received a full scholarship to attend Benedict College in the United States where I obtained a bachelor’s degree in Physics.
I also obtained full scholarships that allowed me to complete two master’s degrees, including a Master of Science in Medical Physics from Purdue University in the United States and a Master of Science in Medical Informatics from the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. In addition to operating Give Girls A Chance, I am an international development professional with over 9 years of experience working in the financial inclusion and global health sectors across Central Asia, Sub Saharan Africa, Europe, and North America. I am currently a Gender and Learning Specialist on the Migration and Remittances team at the United Nations Capital Development Fund. My dream is to help create a more equitable world that benefits everyone, and I believe that by working to close the gender gap, in education and financial inclusion, I can contribute to achieving that dream. I would like to be remembered for trying to leave the world a better place than I found it and doing what I could to pay-it-forward and make the journey easier for the generations of women coming after me.
IM: What makes you wake up in the morning?
UO: Beyond GGAC, I founded Launch Africa, a social enterprise offering tailored career advice and coaching to individuals seeking opportunities in the International Development sector. I also authored the highly rated “30-Day Guide to Landing your Dream Job in International Development” and I’m a contributing writer for the social enterprise, She Leads Africa, where my article “How to Land a Job with the United Nations” remains one of the most shared articles on the platform. I also sit on the Advisory Board of two non-profits, Africa Matters Initiative and Humanity Unified.
IM: What does being part of the ‘Top 10 Finalists in the Donors for Africa’s Social Innovators Bootcamp’ mean to you?UO: Being one of the top 10 finalists in the Donor for African’s Social Innovators Bootcamp challenge has been a surreal experience. I joined the bootcamp to learn practical skills I could directly apply to running a social enterprise and it has been a rewarding experience. It is encouraging to see how the application of these newly gained skills combined with my passion for the work that Give Girls A Chance is doing has propelled me into the group with the rest of the amazing, talented, and passionate social entrepreneurs.
IM: What do you see in the near future after this?
UO: We have big dreams for GGAC and over the next 5 years we aim to significantly increase our impact to reach up to 1,000 girls in the most marginalized and resource constrained settings across Nigeria and provide them with the support they need to stay in school and to thrive.
IM : What are your parting words or advice for the next class and Africa at large?
UO: I would strongly encourage any social innovators across Africa who are looking for a challenging and fulfilling learning and networking opportunity to join the next SIBC cohort. The knowledge they will walk away with after 3 months may be just the spark they’re looking for to ignite their cause and crowd in the experience, contacts and funding that they need to get to the next level.
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