Safety For Every Girl, a women-led non-profit dedicated to empowering girls and women and eradicating period poverty, has announced the first-ever 2024 National Essay Competition celebrating International Women’s Day at www.safetyforeverygirl.com.
Open to girls and women across Nigeria, the essay competition kickstarts SFEG’s Period Summit, which is set to captivate minds nationwide and unleash a wave of innovative solutions to combat the enormous challenge of period poverty in Nigeria and across the African region.
Participants can enter the competition in the Teen (ages 13 – 19) or Adult (ages 20 to 35) categories, respectively. Writers in the Teen Category stand the chance to win 1st Prize – N400,000, 2nd Prize – N250,000, and 3rd Prize – N150,000. Meanwhile, Adult Category winners will be awarded 1st Prize – N750,000, 2nd Prize – N400,000, and 3rd Prize – N200,000.
Entrants are invited to write on “Innovative Solutions to Combat Period Poverty in Nigeria” and submit their entries for FREE at the official website www.safetyforeverygirl.com.
“Empowering change begins with a single voice, and the 2024 Safety For Every Girl National Essay Competition aims to amplify the chorus of Innovative Solutions to Combat Period Poverty in Nigeria,” said Chioma Nwigwe, the founder of Safety For Every Girl Foundation.
She added that “True progress stems from inclusivity and equity. Through this nationwide competition, we aim to commemorate International Women’s Day by fostering a dynamic dialogue that embraces diverse perspectives. The essay competition winners will be celebrated at the SFEG Period Summit in March, and we hope that it serves as a rallying point for creating lasting change.”
According to her, the nationwide essay competition aims to increase public awareness about period poverty and champion the cause of menstrual equity. “The ultimate goal is to pave the way for a future where every girl, regardless of her socioeconomic status, can manage her monthly periods safely and with dignity, ensuring her access to the educational and economic opportunities she deserves.”
With applications opened this week, the competition closes on Thursday, 15th February 2024, at 11.59 PM. Winners will be unveiled and rewarded at the SFEG Period Summit on the 6th of March in Lagos. The essay is sponsored by industry giants MTN, Tenece, and Platform Branding Company.