Girls Step Into Power as ATLAS Initiative Launches Enterprise for Young Women

In the heart of Majidun community in Ikorodu, Lagos, a quiet revolution is unfolding. It is not on the streets or in boardrooms, it is in classrooms, community centers, and now, in small business units driven by teenage girls. At the center of this transformation is the Access to Learning and School Initiative, known as ATLAS, whose latest project is empowering adolescent girls with the tools to live boldly, think critically, and build sustainable businesses from scratch.

With support from PLAN International, ATLAS recently celebrated the graduation of 61 girls from its flagship program, Enriching Lives Through Education, a nine-month training focused on sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR), life skills, and enterprise development. What began as a plan to train 50 girls grew into a full-fledged empowerment model, one that is already rippling across the community.

A Business Built on Bold Ideas

The standout result of the program is the Elite Enterprise, a cooperative business platform launched by the girls and ATLAS. Designed to be both social enterprise and skills accelerator, the platform allows the girls to monetize their SRHR knowledge and products by offering hygiene solutions, reusable pads, eco-conscious upcycled items, and more.

On graduation day, the girls put their creativity and training on full display. They demonstrated how to make organic soap, antiseptic solutions, shampoos, and conditioners all designed with accessibility and health in mind. Others showcased eco-friendly sanitary pads and sustainable crafts made through upcycling, reinforcing the link between environmental responsibility and female empowerment.

But this was no ordinary graduation. The atmosphere buzzed with pride, excitement, and the unmistakable feeling that something lasting had been born.

A Holistic Model of Community Transformation

Speaking at the event, Habeeb Balogun, Executive Director of ATLAS Initiative, emphasized that the project is not just about teaching skills; it is about building resilience, independence, and opportunity.

“We set out to train 50 girls but ended up empowering 61. Beyond SRHR, they now possess skills that position them to earn, lead, and create impact. The Elite Enterprise is our response to unemployment, early marriage, and vulnerability among out-of-school girls. It is a platform that gives them ownership over their lives and their future.”

Some of the most promising participants were given startup kits to launch small-scale cottage businesses. The idea, according to Balogun, is to scale the cooperative model into a long-term livelihood system where passion, purpose, and profit intersect.

Community Stakeholders Rally Behind the Girls

The event also saw overwhelming support from community leaders. Pastor Felix Egbodofo, Secretary of the Abejoye Community Development Association, applauded the initiative and called for its continuity.

“ATLAS has done what many only talk about. These girls now know how to turn waste into wealth. We, the community, are ready to support them morally and financially. We want to see these skills evolve into businesses, not just memories.”

The Olori of the community has already offered a dedicated space for the girls to continue their work under the Elite Enterprise umbrella. With stakeholders pledging contracts and partnerships, the program’s impact is positioned for exponential growth.

One of the graduates, Adewale Idowu, a young mother, shared her joy at the completion of the program.

“Everything we learned will help us become independent. I am ready to go into full business now. I want to make ATLAS proud and create something that lasts.”

Across the room, other girls echoed her sentiments, expressing gratitude and optimism for the future. Their voices were not just hopeful they were confident, articulate, and determined.

What Comes Next

Though the formal project has closed, ATLAS plans to maintain strong engagement with the girls and their cooperative groups. Plans are underway to monitor progress, deepen mentorship, and expand access to market opportunities.

With continued support from PLAN International and local stakeholders, the Elite Enterprise stands as a model of what can happen when organizations invest deeply not just in ideas, but in people.

In a world where young girls are too often overlooked, the ATLAS Initiative is proving that with education, entrepreneurship, and empathy, they can rise and lead.