The Youth Empowerment Foundation (YEF) has closed out its GOAL project it ran for 20 years in secondary schools across the country with quiz competitions among 10 schools in the FCT

The Executive Secretary, YEF, Mrs Iwalola Akin-Jimoh, at the close out session, said the project had been able to develop the self esteem, communication and proficiency skills of the students.

Akin-Jimoh, represented by the Senior Programme Officer of the foundation, Bukola Akingbohungbe, explained that the project which was actually closing would continue to leave an indelible mark on the students.

She said the foundation had been able to empower 14 junior secondary schools in Abuja with vast knowledge in its modules such as : be yourself, be healthy, be empowered and be money savvy.

”This project has gone a long way and we’ve had a lot of products that can testify to what GOAL has helped them to achieve in life. Some are out of school and some are doing well right now.

”And hopefully we believe those ones too will be an ambassador of GOAL.

”GOAL is closing and at same time, not closing. It’s closing in schools as regards the life skill sessions. But then the new thing that will be brought on board will still engage the GOAL girls.

”This will also bring them into entrepreneurship and employability. You know, since they’ve gone through the goal sessions, they have the life skill knowledge, they have the health knowledge. We are hoping on how they can channel all of this into work life,” she said .

She also commended Standard Chartered Banks who had supported the project for the past 20 years.

Some of the students expressed their joy with the knowledge foundation and by extension the GOAL project had impacted in them.

Oluwalarami Femi-Makun, a student of Junior Secondary School (JSS), Pykassa, appreciated the project as it had helped her to develop her self esteem while also relating well with her fellow students.

Also, Ndube Gift, a student of JSS Life Camp stage project had impacted greatly especially as it had exposed the students to the knowledge of safe savings, and taught them on knowledge of conflict resolution as well as the disadvantage of yielding to peer pressure.

The close out session featured prize giving at the quiz competition.

JSS Kubwa 1 clinched top while JSS Kubwa 2 and JSS Jibi came second and third position in the competition.