By Agnes Ansah
Accra, March 8, GNA – Junior Achievement Africa (JA Africa), a youth-serving orgainsarion, has graduated and inducted 61 girls into its 10 Million African Girls (10MAG) community after completing the Leadership Empowerment Achievement Development (LEAD) Camp.
The week-long residential programme, designed for high-potential secondary school girls, provided mentorship, workshops and networking opportunities to build leadership, financial literacy and career development skills.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the ceremony in Accra, Ms Simi Nwogugu, President and Chief Executive Officer of JA Africa, said the camp formed part of efforts to strengthen leadership capacity among young women across Africa.
The LEAD Camp, which started in 2023, brought together participants from eight countries: Eswatini, Ghana, Nigeria, Mauritius, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia.
The graduation ceremony was on the theme: “Give to Gain,” aligning with the theme for the 2026 International Women’s Day celebration.
The programme, organised in partnership with Delta Air Lines, also featured the “Give to Gain” Social Impact Challenge, where participants worked in cross-country teams to design practical solutions to community issues.
Finalists presented their projects at the graduation ceremony, demonstrating problem-solving, collaboration and measurable impact thinking, alongside creativity and innovation.
Ms Nwogugu said: “the LEAD Camp equips young women with leadership capability and strategic exposure.”
She said the 10MAG initiative provided continued mentorship, scholarships and entrepreneurial pathways to cultivate women prepared to lead in boardrooms, build thriving enterprises and shape policy across Africa.
Reflecting on the programme, Ms Eloina Baddoo, Marketing Manager, Delta Air Lines, said the LEAD Camp exemplified Delta Air Lines’ investment in community partnerships that drove educational access and workforce readiness across its international markets.
She said the collaboration with JA Africa helped build a scalable pipeline of confident and skilled young women ready to lead in their communities and industries.
“Sustainable progress begins with access; access to knowledge, networks, and opportunity. Our partnership with JA Africa transcends traditional training; it establishes a structured pathway that allows young African women to engage meaningfully in the global economy.
“Inducting this year’s cohort into 10MAG reflects our long-term commitment to expanding opportunity across the continent,” she said.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey