The city of Kaduna was at a standstill on Saturday, 24th August 2024 when SKY Girls, a vibrant community of teenage girls across Nigeria dedicated to self-expression and authenticity, premiered its highly anticipated eight-part series, Journey to Bloom, at Bridge Park Cinema, Kaduna, Nigeria. The premiere was attended by notable guests and dignitaries and showcased SKY Girls’ commitment to addressing critical issues like financial inclusion and sexual and reproductive health.
The project supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has been instrumental in promoting financial literacy, reproductive health education, and overall empowerment across Nigeria, is a vital step toward creating meaningful conversations that resonate with teenage girls navigating these challenges.
The series follows the lives of two teenage girls at Blooming Heights College as they navigate adolescence amidst the pressures of friendships, societal expectations, and family life in Nigeria. By addressing themes like financial inclusion, sexual and reproductive health, and empowerment, Journey to Bloom educates while entertaining, ensuring that each episode speaks directly to the lived experiences of teen girls in Nigeria.
The cast features a talented lineup of newly discovered and emerging teen actors, including Ayomide Boluwatife (Tife), Judith Ushi (Naima), Isoken Aruede (Jibs), Wonuola Lanre Akinremi (Yomi), Nadia Dutch (Bibi), and Samson Imanah (Kunle). Their compelling portrayals bring authenticity and depth to the series, highlighting the nuances of teenage life and the realities of growing up in Nigeria.
Benedicta Ogbian, Account Director of SKY Girls Nigeria, expressed her excitement about the series, stating, “This series was created to capture the essence of what SKY Girls stands for—empowering teen girls to be true to themselves while addressing the unique challenges they face. The creative talents of our young cast have brought these stories to life in a way that feels both relatable and impactful.”
Ogbian also emphasised the broader impact of the project: “Through this series, we were not only able to discover fresh talents but also explore the dynamics of the nation and real issues affecting teenage girls in Nigeria. From financial literacy to reproductive health and peer pressure, each episode in the series addresses topics that resonate with the realities faced by these young girls across the country every day, and this is even more profound in Northern Nigeria, where data from the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) shows that there are over 7.6 million out of school girls in Nigeria, with about 48% of them being in the North West and North East.”
Beyond the entertainment, Journey to Bloom aligns with a broader mission to enhance financial literacy among teenage girls as part of ongoing efforts to foster financial inclusion across Nigeria. The series forms a crucial element of SKY Girls Nigeria’s strategy to create positive social change and drive awareness around critical issues affecting the nation’s youth.
SKY Girls Nigeria has rapidly expanded its reach, empowering thousands of young women across Nigeria. Its flagship programmes and TV series, including Journey to Bloom and SKY Girls Fest Kaduna, as well as SKY Girls Magazine, have been pivotal in achieving this impact.
Another key focus of the initiative is the Reduce Tobacco Uptake, which aims to lower tobacco consumption among adolescent girls. This is accomplished through a multi-faceted approach, encompassing magazines, social media, radio, television, feature-length films, school clubs, and community events.
The show is set to air every Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on Africa Magic Family and SKY Girls YouTube page, bringing a fresh perspective to screens across Nigeria.