Across the African continent, millions of girls still face the burden of early marriage, limited education, and systemic barriers to opportunity. Simi Nwogugu, CEO of JA Africa, is working to change that narrative. With over 25 years of experience in youth empowerment, she is leading a movement to help girls rise, thrive, and lead.
Through her work with JA Africa, Simi has created programs that go far beyond textbooks. She has built a pipeline of opportunity rooted in real-world learning, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. Her signature initiative for girls, the LEAD Camp, has reached more than 2,000 participants and serves as a launchpad for future women leaders across the continent.
Simi believes that empowering girls is not only a moral imperative, it is an economic one. She understands the multiplier effect that occurs when young women gain skills and confidence. They reinvest in their families, launch businesses, and uplift their communities. She designed programs for underserved and out-of-school youth in conflict zones and during the pandemic, ensuring that no girl is left behind.
Her newest campaign, 10MAG, stands for 10 Million African Girls. Launched in March 2025, it is a call to action aimed at equipping ten million girls with entrepreneurship, leadership, and advocacy training by 2050. The campaign addresses stark realities. In some parts of Africa, only one in three girls completes high school. Many are married before age 14. Access to capital remains scarce for women entrepreneurs.
10MAG is designed to be a continent-wide movement. It brings together the public and private sectors, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders to build an ecosystem of support. Its first cohort of 52 girls from seven countries has already completed the LEAD Camp and now forms the foundation of a long-term network that will offer mentorship, training, and opportunities.
Beyond individual programs, Simi has strategically leveraged partnerships across governments, corporations, and civil society to scale JA Africa’s reach. By fostering collaboration and tapping into diverse expertise, she has created a model that adapts to local contexts while maintaining a unified vision for girl empowerment. Simi’s leadership ensures that the momentum behind 10MAG is sustainable, transforming isolated efforts into a robust, continent-wide movement that equips girls not just to survive, but to thrive as the next generation of changemakers.
“We cannot move forward if half of our population is held back,” Simi said during the launch event in Accra. “These girls are our future. They deserve the tools to lead.”
Simi’s work also extends to environmental education. Under her leadership, JA Africa partnered with the UN Environment Program to create climate education initiatives. She is deeply committed to ensuring that young women are prepared to lead in every sector, including sustainability.
In 2023, she was awarded the Africa Education Medal for her commitment to youth empowerment. She holds a degree from Harvard Business School and serves as President of its alumni association in Nigeria.
For Simi Nwogugu, empowering girls is not just a campaign. It is a lifelong mission. Through 10MAG, she is helping young women see themselves as leaders and equipping them with the tools to make that vision a reality.
To learn more or get involved, visit www.10MAG.org.
