13 February, 2026

What if shifting behaviour isn’t about shouting louder, but about building a world young people want to walk into?  

Last weekend, SKY Girls Nigeria showed what that looks like when SKY Fest took place in Kaduna in the north of the country. SKY Girls, our behaviour change programme for teen girls active in six African countries, brought 7,000 girls together with one theme: Build the Future You Want. Music spilled onto dance floors, creativity was everywhere, friendships sparked, and conversations about money and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) felt as natural as taking a selfie.  

So how do you build a world like that? You don’t do it alone. Not only was the fest supported by local influencers girls genuinely care about, but in the Money Smart Zone, the NIMC helped girls register for their National Identification Number, the key to opening bank accounts and accessing government services. Right beside them, OPAY showed girls how to open digital wallets. At the Sisters’ Circle, SRH experts created space for honest conversations about wellbeing and relationships, while the Red Cross led practical sessions on puberty and STIs. 

But why does a festival matter for behaviour change? Because shifts start with identity, aspiration and belonging. SKY Fest means girls coming together as “SKY Sisters”, hearing messages in a space designed for them, and sparking conversations that travel far beyond the venue gates. Crucially, it also builds trust with parents and community leaders – the trust that helps girls explore new ideas, try new behaviours and choose the futures they want.   

Got ideas for partners who should be part of this movement? Let’s talk. After all, for girls to build their future, the least we can do is build the world that backs them. 

By Sarah Forero