Centre4Teens Launches EmpowerHER Project to Equip Vulnerable Adolescent Girls in Bwari with Health, Leadership, and Financial Skills

The Centre for Teens Health and Development (Centre4Teens) has launched the EmpowerHER Project, a strategic empowerment initiative designed to address the socio‑economic and structural barriers that limit vulnerable adolescent girls’ access to accurate information, practical skills, and pathways to financial independence.

Centre4Teens is a youth‑focused non‑profit organisation dedicated to supporting the holistic growth of teenagers across Nigeria. The organisation provides safe, inclusive, and empowering spaces for young people to learn, express themselves, and build critical life skills. Its programmes focus on personal development, sexual and reproductive health education, and practical skills empowerment, especially for adolescents in underserved and vulnerable communities. Centre4Teens also implements initiatives such as the MO Reusable Pads Project, which promotes safe menstrual hygiene practices and sustainable dignity solutions for girls in rural and internally displaced communities.

Across many communities in the Federal Capital Territory, adolescent girls face multiple challenges including limited access to sexual and reproductive health information, early exposure to exploitation, school dropout, economic dependency, and restricted opportunities to acquire income‑generating skills. These gaps often leave girls ill‑equipped to make informed life decisions, increasing their vulnerability to poverty, gender‑based violence, and poor health outcomes.

The EmpowerHER Project responds directly to these realities by equipping 20 selected adolescent girls from five communities in Bwari Area Council, FCT, with essential knowledge and tools to thrive. Through a six‑week structured programme, participants will receive comprehensive education on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), skills acquisition and empowerment, and financial literacy.

By integrating health education with practical skill‑building and financial knowledge, the project aims to empower participants to make informed decisions about their bodies and futures, build sustainable livelihoods through small‑scale businesses, and contribute meaningfully to the wellbeing of their families and communities.

The project is led by Morenikejimi Olaniran, Founder and Project Lead at Centre4Teens, a seasoned adolescent health and empowerment advocate with expertise in child protection, mental health, reproductive health education, and community development.

“Adolescence is a defining period. When girls are empowered early with accurate information, practical skills, and financial awareness, they are better positioned to break cycles of vulnerability and become confident agents of positive change in their communities,” said Morenikejimi Olaniran.

Beyond individual empowerment, the EmpowerHER Project also seeks to strengthen community resilience by supporting girls to transition from dependency to self‑reliance, while reinforcing the importance of investing in adolescent girls as a proven pathway to sustainable development.

The EmpowerHER Project aligns with Centre4Teens’ broader mission to promote adolescent health, empowerment, and inclusive development, with a particular focus on reaching girls in underserved and hard‑to‑reach communities across the Federal Capital Territory.