Thelma Chinonso Nnadozie, a passionate advocate, mentor, and product manager, has founded the She Can Advocacy and Empowerment Initiative (SCAEI), a nonprofit organisation dedicated to empowering women and girls across Nigeria.

Based in Owerri, Imo State, SCAEI aims to amplify the voices of women and girls by providing them with the tools, knowledge, and support needed to reach their full potential. The organisation focuses on key areas including education, skill development, financial inclusion, leadership training, health, and social equity.

Speaking about her vision, Nnadozie said her commitment to women and girls stems from deep personal conviction and childhood experiences.

“Growing up in Nigeria, I witnessed firsthand the many forms of oppression, deprivation, and marginalization faced by women and girls as a result of cultural and social norms,” she explained. “These experiences deeply affected me and strengthened my resolve to speak for those whose voices have been suppressed.”

Nnadozie revealed that her passion for advocacy began as early as age five, when she first dreamed of becoming a lawyer providing free legal services for women and girls. Although her academic path took a different direction, her commitment to the cause remained unwavering.

One of the issues closest to her heart is the lack of access to quality education for girls, as well as menstrual poverty, which forces many young girls to use unsafe materials during their periods.

Through SCAEI, Nnadozie and her team have already made a notable impact. The organisation has successfully sensitised over 3,500 girls in various schools across different communities. The interactive programmes focus on education, leadership, financial literacy, and career development, with the goal of turning the girls into confident leaders and change-makers in their respective environments.

“Our mission is to empower, educate, and support females so that they can realize and maximize their full potential,” Nnadozie stated. “In every society, women and girls should not only be seen and heard but should actively contribute to the growth, wellbeing, and progress of their communities.”

The She Can Advocacy and Empowerment Initiative plans to expand its reach with more targeted interventions in skill acquisition, health awareness, and economic empowerment programmes for women and girls in Imo State and beyond.