The Centre for Legal Orientation and Humanitarian Aid Initiative (CELOHA Nigeria) has launched the MACE FITILA Project, an initiative designed to empower girls with leadership skills, mentorship and opportunities to become agents of positive change in their communities.
The organisation said in a statement issued on Wednesday that the project was conceived in response to challenges faced by girls across Nigeria and West Africa, including poverty, discrimination, harmful social norms, limited educational opportunities and lack of safe spaces for personal development.
According to the statement, many girls are unable to realise their full potential because they are denied opportunities to develop essential life skills and access mentorship.
“Every day, thousands of girls struggle with challenges that affect their ability to thrive. Some are denied opportunities to develop essential life skills. Others lack mentors and role models who can guide them through critical stages of their lives,” it stated.
The organisation noted that the consequences of failing to empower girls extend beyond individuals to communities and society at large.
It said that when girls are not empowered, communities lose future leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, educators and change-makers, resulting in increased vulnerability, low self-esteem and limited participation in decision-making processes.
CELOHA Nigeria explained that the name “MACE FITILA”, meaning “Woman as Light” or “The Girl as a Beacon of Hope”, reflects its belief in the transformative impact of empowering girls.
“‘Mace Fitila’ reflects a simple but powerful belief: when a girl is empowered, she becomes a source of light for herself, her family, and her community,” the organisation said.
It reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to discover her strengths, build confidence and pursue her aspirations without fear or limitation.
“The Centre for Legal Orientation and Humanitarian Aid Initiative believes that every girl deserves the opportunity to discover her strengths, build her confidence, and pursue her dreams without fear or limitation,” the statement added.
The organisation said the project would provide platforms for girls to express themselves, learn from peers and engage with positive female role models.
It explained that through life skills education, mentorship programmes, awareness sessions and confidence-building activities, the initiative would equip girls with the knowledge and resilience needed to navigate challenges and make informed decisions.
“At its core, MACE FITILA is about dignity, self-respect, and resilience. It is about helping girls recognize their worth and empowering them to become agents of change within their communities,” it said.
The organisation stressed the importance of investing in girls as a strategy for building stronger families, resilient communities and sustainable development.
“MACE FITILA is not just a project—it is a movement to ensure that every girl has the opportunity to shine, lead, and inspire others. Because when a girl becomes a light, she illuminates the path for generations to come,” the statement concluded.
