JAN Equips 58,000 Girls with Real-World Entrepreneurship Skills through SET4LYF

Mary Nnah

Junior Achievement Nigeria has recorded a significant impact through the first year of its School-to-Work Educational Transitions for Long-Term Youth Fulfilment (SET4LYF) programme, with participating students demonstrating remarkable growth in entrepreneurship, leadership, financial literacy, and problem-solving skills.

Implemented across the country, the programme contributed to reaching over 58,000 young girls through experiential learning, entrepreneurship education, mentorship, and school-based innovation activities.
The initiative also prioritised inclusion, directly engaging 407 girls with disabilities and 235 girls from displaced backgrounds.
Designed to prepare young girls for future economic participation, SET4LYF bridges education and enterprise through practical, hands-on learning experiences.

Findings from Year 1 revealed overwhelmingly positive feedback from students, teachers, and school leaders, with the Company Programme component emerging as the most impactful aspect of the initiative.
Through the program, students moved beyond classroom theory into hands-on business development experiences, developing products, conducting market research, negotiating with vendors, raising capital through shareholder models, and refining business ideas based on customer feedback and guided mentorship.

Speaking on the impact of the program, Mndepawe Kwaghe Jonah, SET4LYF Specialist for Junior Achievement Nigeria, said: “Year 1 of the SET4LYF Programme has shown the power of collaboration in preparing young people for successful school-to-work transitions. Through our partnerships with government, schools, communities, and the private sector, we have equipped students and teachers with critical skills in entrepreneurship, career readiness, and future-focused learning. As we celebrate these achievements, we remain committed to expanding opportunities for more young people, especially those in underserved communities, to access the skills, support, and pathways they need to thrive in the future of work.”

Teachers at participating schools reported significant transformation among students, particularly in confidence, communication, teamwork, creativity, and critical thinking.

One mentor teacher noted that participants worked tirelessly to perfect business presentations and develop innovative solutions to real community challenges.

Others highlighted the students’ ability to independently manage production costs, strategize marketing approaches, and collaborate effectively in leadership roles.

The programme also strengthened financial literacy among participants, exposing them to concepts such as budgeting, profit margins, sustainability planning, and investor engagement through practical application.

Mentorship was identified as a key driver of the program’s success, with students consistently describing direct guidance and practical support as critical to helping them understand concepts, build confidence, and strengthen their ideas.
School leaders further praised the program for aligning with broader educational goals that extend beyond academic performance to include leadership, innovation, and self-reliance.

According to the report, SET4LYF created safe and supportive environments where girls were encouraged to speak up, contribute ideas, take initiative, and collaborate toward shared goals.

Junior Achievement Nigeria noted that Year 1 outcomes reinforce the importance of experiential entrepreneurship education in preparing young girls for the future of work and economic participation, while reaffirming its commitment to strengthening implementation, improving accessibility, and expanding impact as the program progresses into its next phase.

Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN) is part of Junior Achievement Worldwide, the world’s oldest and largest non-profit economic education organization operating in over 100 countries and dedicated to empowering students in financial literacy, work readiness, entrepreneurship, and digital literacy through experiential, hands-on programmes.