“If I decide to do something, I’m all in. And once I’m in, it’s less about quantity and acceleration, it’s more about quality and intention,” says actor David Oyelowo during a recent Zoom video chat. In 2014, Oyelowo began working with the GEANCO Foundation, a non-profit organization that focuses on improving the lives of girls in Nigeria. Inspired by the Chibok schoolgirl kidnapping in 2014, Oyelowo created the David Oyelowo Leadership Scholarship for Girls in 2016.
The scholarship provides full tuition, housing, health care, and social support to a new class of young women each year. The scholarship recipients attend partner schools, with about half of them attending Brightland Academy, founded by Obiajulu Ejiofor, the mother of actor Chiwetel Ejiofor. Initially, only three girls received scholarships, but now the program supports 45 girls, many of whom have experienced sexual violence, physical violence, poverty, and intense misogyny and sexism.
One key aspect of GEANCO’s scholarship program is mental health support. Oyelowo emphasizes that it’s not enough to just educate the girls; they also need holistic care that addresses their mental well-being. He credits Oprah Winfrey for highlighting the importance of mental health for these girls. In 2015, Winfrey donated $100,000 in Oyelowo’s honor to the Anglican Girls’ Grammar School in Abuja, Nigeria. Oyelowo was inspired by Winfrey’s Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa and wanted to create a similar environment for marginalized and terrorized girls in Nigeria.
Recently, Oyelowo and GEANCO partnered with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s The Archewell Foundation to further support girls in Nigeria. The foundation donated Béis backpacks filled with school supplies and menstrual products for distribution to young women. This support also includes menstrual health education for 2,500 girls in the region GEANCO serves. Afam Onyema, CEO of GEANCO, reached out to Markle after she revealed her Nigerian heritage. He emphasizes that he’s not shy about asking for help because he’s not asking for himself, but for the girls who are suffering in Nigeria.
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Onyema highlights the importance of menstrual products for the girls. Many of them miss school each month due to their menstrual cycles, and some are unaware of what is happening to their bodies at puberty. GEANCO also builds solar-powered maternal and family clinics in Nigeria to ensure safe deliveries for women. The organization has received support from various Hollywood celebrities, including Benedict Cumberbatch, Charlize Theron, Angelina Jolie, Chris Rock, Andrew Garfield, Jimmy Kimmel, and Daniel Craig.
Oyelowo expresses his pride in the steady growth of the scholarship fund and GEANCO’s commitment. He believes it’s crucial to let these girls know that their education and well-being are valued. The scholarship program lasts for up to six years, and the girls are selected for their potential to become leaders in their communities. Oyelowo mentions that some girls who have completed the program are now returning to teach new girls, demonstrating leadership and paying it forward.
Both Oyelowo and Onyema hope to scale the program through corporate partnerships. Their ambition is to provide thousands of scholarships and create a sense of pride among parents who can say, “My daughter is a David Oyelowo scholar.” The ultimate goal is to empower these girls and create lasting change in their lives and communities.
