SHADE-IN

International Girl in ICT Day On this year’s International Girls in ICT Day, we celebrate not just the potential of girls in technology, but the power of inclusive digital transformation when young women are equipped with the skills, confidence, and opportunities to thrive. The theme for 2025, “Girls in ICT for Inclusive Digital Transformation,” aligns perfectly with SHADE-IN’s mission — while championing SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Empowerment) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Our Founder’s Story: A Living Example At Saving Hand Development Initiative (SHADE-IN), we don’t just advocate for girls in tech — we live it. Our founder, Bliss Ojeruse, is a Computer Science graduate, highly computer literate, digitally competent, and a strong advocate for the ethical use of ICT tools for social impact. As a young woman, Bliss defied the odds, embracing tech not only as a career but as a tool for service. She used her knowledge to build...

WE'RE ON THE NEWS!  On Sunday, 13th April, 2025, Saving Hand Development Initiative (SHADE-IN) was featured in the news through a Press Release on the organisation's 15th Anniversary. This was announced that same day across SHADE-IN's social media with the title: "We're on the News!" SHADE-IN was featured in Sunday Independent—a special edition of Independent Newspaper Nigeria!   📍Check out our 15th Anniversary announcement on page 6 of the print edition of Independent Newspaper Nigeria, or read it online here: https://independent.ng/saving-hand-development-initiative-shade-in-marks-15-years-of-impact/ This feature celebrates SHADE-IN’s 15 years of transforming lives and impacting communities—marked on April 10, 2025, and still going strong! 📍Join the celebration and explore all the details here: https://shade-in.blogspot.com/2025/04/shade-in-at-15-transforming-lives.html?m=1 📍Follow our journey and stories through:  #SHADEINAt15   #SHADEINStories ...

Malala Yousafzai, SHADE-IN's Woman Crush  This Women Crush Wednesday (WCW), Saving Hand Development Initiative (SHADE-IN) celebrates a woman whose story embodies what we believe in—Malala Yousafzai. From defying fear as an 11-year-old blogger in Taliban-controlled Pakistan to becoming a global symbol for education, equality, and youth empowerment, Malala’s journey is proof that young people with a vision can change the world. How Malala’s Achievements Speak SHADE-IN’s Language At SHADE-IN, we champion young people taking the lead—in business, leadership, creativity, and impact. Malala’s story reflects this boldly: • She didn’t wait for the future—she started building it at age 11, leading a silent revolution through her anonymous blogs to advocate for girls’ education. • She turned oppression into opportunity—after surviving an assassination attempt, she founded a global organization that now invests millions into empowering girls around the world. • She created platfor...

A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!  Hurray! We’re 15 Today!🕺💃 Happy Anniversary to Us at Saving Hand Development Initiative (SHADE-IN)! Today, we joyfully celebrate 15 years of transforming lives and impacting communities—one step at a time. To all our donors, partners, stakeholders, volunteers and staff (past and present), board members, management team, beneficiaries, and community supporters—THANK YOU! This milestone wouldn’t be possible without your love, support, and shared belief in the mission. Join us as we reflect, share stories, and spotlight our journey starting from today within the next couple of months this year using the hashtags below.  Let’s celebrate this legacy together! Saving Hand Development Initiative (SHADE-IN) gratefully celebrates F.I.F.T.E.E.N (15) years of: F – Faith and Faithfulness I – Initiative, Innovation, Inspiration and Impact F – Fortitude and Forging Resilience T – Tenacity and Transformation E – Excellent Executions E – Empowerment and Empathy N ...

Abstract On this International Day of Conscience, we reflect on the delicate balance between righteous indignation and ethical responsibility. This article examines a 2025 incident in Nigeria where an activist’s public confrontation of a struggling mother and her 11‐year‐old daughter escalated into a humiliating episode.  The case, which involved the exposure of the child’s face in violation of child protection guidelines, ultimately led to a public apology from the activist and compassionate intervention from well-meaning Nigerians including the famous chess player and philanthropist Tunde Onakoya, and the founder of Buchymix, who stepped in and offered to support the child’s education and the family's welfare, including accomodation.  Through this analysis, we explore the complexities of activism that neglects empathy and the need for a conscientious approach in public discourse. Introduction Conscience guides us in differentiating right from wrong, yet its application in pu...

Saving Hand Development Initiative (SHADE-IN) joins the rest of the world in commemorating World Theatre Day 2025 themed: “Theatre and a Culture of Peace”, today March 27, 2025. Performance and Creative Arts continue to play important roles in social development, impact and the promotion of a culture of peace through satirical performances, the dramatization of the lived experiences of people, among others. As an organisation, SHADE-IN utilises Performance and Creative Arts to bring attention among others to the most critical challenges facing young people in our society. As the story of Jumokhe shows, peer pressure has led some young people to make life-altering decisions including with respect to their sexuality. We invite you to watch the story of Jumokhe via the Youtube link  JUMOKHE .  Like and share her story as we all work toward building a culture of peace. Do not also forget to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel to receive prompt updates. At SHADE-IN, we embrace arts ...

My Story and Sexuality Sexuality can be a tricky subject to navigate, especially when you’re young and still figuring out who you are. But one thing I’ve learned through my own journey is that your sexuality is yours to define, and there’s no shame in it—no matter what it looks like or the world's views. This is my story and I hope it inspires you. Growing up, I had a close friend named Franca. We were very close and everyone knew us.  Then, I was more often attracted to girls at different times and we could be so close. Today, a lot of young people get attracted to persons of different sexual orientation - a girl can get attracted to a girl, a boy to a boy, a girl to a boy and vice versa. There is nothing wrong with this on a platonic basis. Child This has been falsely interpreted as them having a different sexual orientation from whom their Maker made them, which informs their gender identity - gay, lesbian and every other identity. This has led to other forms of sexual orientati...

AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation The International Day of Education is a reminder of education’s transformative power in building a sustainable and equitable future. In 2025, this day takes on a new layer of significance as we witness the rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into every corner of our lives, especially education. While AI offers groundbreaking opportunities, it also raises critical questions: how do we preserve human agency, creativity, and ethics in a world increasingly shaped by automation?   The Transformative Potential of AI in Education   AI has unlocked possibilities that were once unimaginable. Personalized learning platforms now cater to individual needs, helping students progress at their own pace. AI-powered tools assist teachers by automating administrative tasks, freeing them to focus on mentorship and student engagement. In underserved communities, AI has expanded access to education by provid...