PROJECT_INSPIRE: Can we meet you?
Dennis : I am Dennis Anzaku Tsakpa, a 34-years-old, indigene of the Eggon tribe in Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: Tell us about your childhood?
Dennis : I spent most of my childhood in Keffi and Lafia Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State. As a child, I watched my mum shuffle between school, work (teacher) and (family), and she was excellent at it. Because of his job as School Principal with the Ministry of Education, my dad was always on the move as a result of transfers and when it was possible, we also moved with him. He became a principal at a very young age. My dad was so dedicated to his job that one would think he was working for a private organization. His work ethics really influenced me. The death of my little sister dealt a great blow on my family, especially my mum. It was at this time that my dad had us relocate from Keffi to Lafia, to help my mother heal from grief.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What is your educational background like?
Dennis : My parents were both educationists and spared nothing when it came to our education. In fact, they pushed us hard and fast. I finished primary school at a very tender age and proceeded to secondary school before I turned 9 years. I obtained my first degree two months to my 20th birthday. I hold a Bachelor Degrees in Philosophy (Pontifical Urbaniana University, Rome-Italy- Affiliated), a Master’s Degree in International Relations (Benue State University) and a PGDE. (National Teachers Institute).
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What contribution are you giving to make Nigeria a better place?
Dennis : In my attempt to create sustainable impact and contribute to community and national development, I founded EVERY GIRL INITIATIVE (EGI), a gender focused, non-profit organization working to improve and expand the perimeters of opportunities for young girls, promote gender equity, enhance the abilities of young girls to tackle their own economic, social and environmental problems for sustainable community and national development. I founded and registered EGI legally in 2018, after about seven years of professionally working in the development sector in the fields of Protection, Gender and Peace Building. I mobilized a team of related experts from various fields (legal, medical, educational, socio-work) as board members, and a group of young people with vast experience in the development sector to found this organization.
I had the idea of pioneering a system of NGO that is primary impact driven, ran by volunteers, and not dependent on donor funding alone for its project activities and sustainability. We designed EGI to keep functioning, running its projects, making impacts with or without donor funding through the use of volunteer staff, engagement in social enterprises and internally generated revenue. Today Grade Agros and Grade Pads/Stitches (both social enterprises) are an offshot of the organization, with a profit percentile dedicated to support the operations and projects of the organization.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What have your achievements been?
Dennis : Through EGI we have been able to make impacts in the lives of many young girls in local and urban communities of North East, and North Central Nigeria in the areas of Education, Livelihood and Employability Skills Training, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Menstrual Hygiene Management and Capacity for Leadership; addressing all forms of Gender based violence reaching 3,813 persons. Our most priced projects based on their overall vison for impact are One Girl A Thousand Pad, the Boys Against Violence, and the Sheroes Girl Science Academy.
Through the One Girl a Thousand Pad we are out to end period poverty and address the many challenges menstrual hygiene management faced by millions of girls in both and urban communities in Nigeria. The project is three pronged: The first is the advocacy campaign part where I am mobilizing for mass action and campaigning for period products to be made available and accessible for women FREE of charge. The second approach is training and building capacities of women, girls and communities on healthy, safe and dignified management of the menstrual process. The third approach is providing access to period products for vulnerable girls/women, and that is why I founded the Grade Pads and Stiches in Adamawa state where we produce reusable, eco-friendly, washable menstrual pads and distribute for free, while at the same time empowering girls with the know-how and skills to produce the pads themselves
The Boys Against Violence (BAV) project is a GBV prevention and response intervention that is aimed at ending all forms of violence against women and Girls by re-defining the negative notion of masculinity that is associated with violence and, as well as building the capacities of young boys to be agents of prevention and not just perpetrators of sexual and gender base violence. We are building the “Real Man”
The Sheroes Girl Science Academy is a girls’ only Nursery and Primary School that is located in Lafia, Nasarawa State. We are giving young girls at the community level access to a system of education that is basically focused on science and digital skills needed to thrive and excel in today’s world of work and governance. We are equally raising “the total woman” who is smart, strong and capable of activating her limitless potential while boldly pursuing her dream with dignity and in peace. This is all at a very affordable and no cost (scholarship) to these girls.
EGI is currently partnering with DCR Ambassadors - with support from the UN Women and EU Spotlight Project to build the capacities of various actors in Borno State to effectively address and end all violence against women and girls. We are equally setting up a Centre for Gender Safety and Security for women and girls in Borno State. We worked with SFH/UNESCO to engage young people to create access to sexual and reproductive health service.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What motivated you into doing what you are doing?
Dennis : My life experiences; both personal and professional formed the basis of my motivation for what I do. At a particular time in my life (when I was much younger) I wanted to become a catholic priest, even though that desire later changed. What did not change however, was the desire to make impact on people’s lives. Since I couldn’t do that within a spiritual and religious context, I opted for the development sector.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What has been your major challenge since you began your non-profit organization?
Dennis : Like most nascent organizations, there is the challenge of funding to push the activities of the organization, reach out to more target population and make impacts. There is also the challenge of getting the right people to work with; young people with zeal, passion and the commitment for impact. Most young people are after give aways, and their notion of NGOs is one devoid of sacrifice and touching lives. There is also the challenge that comes with been a young person in a field dominated by older people in Nigeria; you are either seen as a threat, or your innovations are challenged because people are set in their old ways of doing things that have generated little or no impact all the while.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: Share with us one or two experiences that you have had in your journey that has really impacted you.
Dennis : I was in Jos recently to buy office equipment and I came across a man in the shop whom upon hearing the name of the organization was amazed, and told me of how thrilled him and his wife are about the One Girl a Thousand Pad Campaign which they came across severally online. He offered to pay for one of the items (printer) I picked for the organization as his contribution to the cause, and asked that I sent my special regards to the Executive Director. He is a man with 6 girls and he said he couldn’t wait for the reality of free pad products come to pass. His gesture lighted up my soul again at a time I was beginning to question if the campaign was really making impact and that night I started a rethinking and redesigning the campaign so that we could do better.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: Many young people have great ideas but the finances are always a stumbling block, what will your advice be in this regard?
Dennis : My advice always to young people who have great ideas, but lack finance is to start small and start where they are. Develop the capacity for financial and resource mobilization. Sourcing for finance to build on your ideas is not something you do emotionally, it is a skill you must build. Be on the lookout for global platforms to sell your ideas.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: How have you been able to raise money for your projects?
Dennis : As I have hinted earlier, I engage in social enterprises that tend to generate income that supports projects and activities, even though at a minimal level. I engage in consultancies too. I am training consultant and have worked with national and international organizations from where I reserve a percentage of my personal income to execute activities. My wife does the same too, given her level of passion and commitments to the girl child. I get support from people of goodwill too.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What do you think has been the major cause of unemployment among youths today and how can we get of this?
Dennis : Corruption has marred our system and denied us of the opportunities we deserve. On the other hand, we have not helped ourselves as many young people are depending on white-collar jobs that are nowhere to be found. I recommend that our youth begin to think outside the box and carve a niche for themselves. The government must begin to intentionally create a friendly environment that allows ideas to thrive and not die.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What are your prospects for the next 5- 10 years?
Dennis : to multiply our impact and become a globally recognized brand. We are working to see Sheroes Girls Academy have branches in all regions of the country. We want to see Pads production centers established in four key Locations in Nigeria, and most importantly for pads and menstrual products to be free, accessible and available.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: Final words to the Nigerian youth.
Dennis : If you truly want to excel, forget bandwagon mentality; chart your own course even if it sounds stupid, crazy and unfeasible. Learn the humility of starting small; and growing big; lastly, never ever rely on government; but don’t fail to call government to account.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: Thank you for sharing your story with us and we do pray that many will be inspired as they read.
Dennis : It is my pleasure.
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