JA Africa Launches 10MAG Campaign to Empower 10 Million Girls

March 20, 2025

Earlier this month, JA Africa officially launched the 10 Million African Girls (10MAG) campaign, an ambitious initiative aimed at equipping ten million girls across the continent with essential entrepreneurship, leadership, and advocacy skills. The campaign seeks to create thriving and sustainable communities, reduce extreme poverty, and combat gender-based violence in sub-Saharan Africa.

Spearheaded by JA Africa’s President and CEO, Simi Nwogugu, 10MAG calls on governments, corporations, foundations, civil society organizations, and individuals worldwide to collaborate in improving access to quality education and economic opportunities for girls and young women in marginalized communities. The campaign addresses significant challenges faced by African girls, including high rates of child marriage and limited access to education and financial resources. In West and Central Africa, only 33% of girls complete high school, and child marriage remains prevalent, with one in seven—and in some regions, three in ten—girls married before the age of 14. Additionally, female entrepreneurs struggle to secure funding, as women-led startups in Africa received only 2% of venture capital funding in 2024.

The 10MAG campaign launch coincided with the graduation ceremony of 52 girls from seven African nations—Eswatini, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—who participated in the Leadership, Empowerment, Achievement, and Development (LEAD) Camp in Accra during the first week of March. Sponsored by Delta Air Lines, the week-long program provided mentorship and inspiration from accomplished women across various industries. Female volunteers from Delta and other sectors reinforced JA Africa’s commitment to fostering leadership and economic independence among young women.

“We are proud to support the LEAD Camp and the 10MAG Campaign, as they represent a huge step toward empowering young girls across Africa,” said Tad Hutcheson, Managing Director of Community Engagement for Delta Air Lines.

The 10MAG initiative, developed as part of Simi’s Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN) fellowship, will raise funds and support for a range of programs dedicated to empowering girls and young women. In addition to JA Africa’s initiatives, 10MAG will collaborate with other nonprofit organizations serving marginalized girls. During the campaign’s launch, the LEAD Camp graduates were inducted as the inaugural members of the 10MAG network, gaining access to continuous mentorship, resources, and opportunities to advance their leadership and entrepreneurial aspirations.

“Africa cannot achieve its full potential if half of its youth population is denied access to quality education and economic participation opportunities,” said Nwogugu. “The goal of the 10MAG campaign is to galvanize action to equip our young women with the tools they need to drive economic growth and raise themselves and their communities out of poverty. They will also be in leadership positions that enable them to build social safety nets for the girls coming behind them. We invite all corporations, governments, NGOs, and individuals who share this vision to join us in developing the Africa of our dreams, where all young people, regardless of gender, can achieve their full potential.”

Learn more about #10MAG and how you can get involved at 10mag.org.