For her humanitarian work and dedication to improving the lives of the Nigerian girl-child by addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and leading youth-led advocacy initiatives, Mrs. Keturah Shammah has received over 30 national and international awards. She was among the speakers at the CSW69 United Nations (UN) Women Push Forward Dialogues in New York, under the theme, ‘Impactful Practices in Pushing Forward for Rights, Equality and Justice in the Context of Beijing +30 and Beyond’, held at the UN Headquarters on March 14, 2025. As Founder and Executive Director of Girls Education Mission (GEM) International, she was recently recognised for her inspiring humanitarian work in leadership, advocacy, technology, education, health and innovation. She won three awards—including the Humanitarian Impact (Gold) category—at the Women Changing the World Global Awards 2025 presented by Oprah Winfrey’s all-time favourite guest, Dr. Tererai Trent, in London. In this exclusive interview with PALANG KASMI, Mrs. Shammah speaks about her recent global recognition, her inspiring work in Plateau State and across Nigeria and the personal childhood experience that drives her passion to mentor girls and support girl-child education
Give us a brief personal and work bio of yourself
I am Keturah Shammah, a multi-global award-winning education advocate, non-profit leader, philanthropist and humanitarian. I am the Founder and Executive Director of Girls Education Mission International (GEM International)—an organisation I began with no money, no status and no connections, only the raw passion born of my lived experience.
Today, that humble beginning has grown into a globally recognised, vetted and top-rated non-profit advancing girls’ education and empowerment. Beyond non-profit leadership, I am also a web developer and digital skills trainer. Technology for me is not just innovation; it is opportunity. My greatest joy is creating opportunities for young people—especially women and girls—to unlock potential and step into their brilliance.
As an award-winning changemaker and role model, I am committed to building systems that outlive me, break barriers and transform lives. I am married to Rev. Shammah David Samuel, and we are blessed with three wonderful children—two boys and a girl. I love reading and have a strong appetite for knowledge and skills related to girls’ education and empowerment. As a mother, I enjoy going on adventures with my children. For fun and fitness, I love cycling and skipping. These are activities that keep me energised and grounded.
Tell us about your organisation and what you do
Girls Education Mission International was born out of pain but fuelled by purpose. In 2007, I began the organisation in Kaduna State, inspired by my own near-dropout experience due to financial hardship. What started as a small initiative to help 10 girls around me grew and was formally incorporated in 2011.
Our mission is simple: to empower girls through education, mentorship and skills development. Over the years, GEM has touched thousands of lives through scholarships, mentorship, menstrual hygiene programmes, advocacy campaigns, digital literacy and leadership training.
Headquartered in Jos, Plateau State, GEM is no longer just a local initiative. We are now active across Nigeria—with presence in 18 states and even in Sierra Leone—and have gained global recognition as a model non-profit that not only changes individual lives but also influences systemic educational change.
Why have you concentrated your interests on girls and other vulnerable groups?
My interest in girls is deeply personal. I was once that girl on the edge of dropping out because my family couldn’t afford school fees. I know the pain of almost losing a dream, and that pain became my purpose.
In many communities, girls are weighed down by poverty, early marriage, cultural bias and gender-based violence. I focus on them because I have seen firsthand that when you educate a girl, you don’t just change her life, you transform her family, her community and, ultimately, the nation.
While girls are at the heart of our mission, our work has extended to boys, youth and other vulnerable groups—especially through our leadership and digital skills programmes. But my fire burns brightest for girls because when one girl rises, she carries many with her.
Which areas and LGAs have you covered in Plateau State and Nigeria generally and what interventions have you made?
Our footprints run across all the 17 LGAs of Plateau State. But we’ve had especially intensive programmes in Jos North, Jos South, Jos East, Bassa, Riyom and Barakin Ladi. Our interventions have ranged from scholarships and mentorship to menstrual hygiene programmes, digital skills and leadership training. Over 100 students have completed their education through our direct support and, right now, more than 50 girls across 18 schools are on a three-year scholarship programme that includes continuous mentorship.
But we didn’t stop with students. Through a partnership with the Plateau and Bauchi states universal basic education boards (SUBEBs), we trained over 300 teachers and quality assurance officers as master trainers, who in turn cascaded the training to thousands of educators.
We have also simplified the national curriculum into schemes of work and lesson plans for key subjects and donated teaching materials to more than 250 schools. This is how GEM works—by not only helping individuals but also transforming systems. That’s why our impact is felt far beyond Plateau, across Nigeria and even internationally.
What’s your motivation and drive?
My biggest motivation is seeing transformation in real time—the joy of watching a girl once at risk of dropping out become a graduate, a leader and a voice in her community. That spark of hope and shift in destiny is what fuels me. What drives me is a strong conviction that education is the greatest weapon for solving many of society’s problems. Every girl who is supported is not just a student; she is a future mother, a future leader and a community builder. Knowing that truth keeps me moving even when the work feels heavy.
Are you satisfied with what you have achieved? If not, what are your future plans?
Grateful? Yes. Satisfied? Not yet. The reality is that millions of girls in Nigeria are still out of school or at risk of dropping out. That truth keeps me restless. Looking ahead, we are determined to expand our scholarship programme, establish a well-structured Girls’ Mentorship and Leadership Institute, scale up our digital and technology training and deepen our advocacy work so systemic barriers to girls’ education are dismantled for good. For years, we have survived on passion and persistence—often with very limited resources. Now, as we look to the future, our vision is not just survival but sustainability: building stronger partnerships, achieving deeper impact and creating lasting systems so that GEM thrives beyond us.
Any challenges?
Yes, plenty. Funding limitations, cultural resistance and insecurity in some communities constantly test us. But these challenges have also sharpened us. They’ve taught us resilience, creativity and the power of partnerships. What could have broken us has instead built us stronger.
Recently you won a series of awards, precisely three at once, added to the over 30 that you already have. Tell us about them.
Over the years, my journey has been honoured with more than 30 national and international awards. Some that stand out include: Nigerian Top Executive in Public Administration—ranked among the top 8% of executives in the nation; Girl Child Role Model Award by AYDF; World Pulse ‘5 Women to Watch’ Changemaker Award; The International Alliance for Women (TIAW) World of Difference Award of Excellence; Star Award by Lift Effects; Extraordinary Woman Philanthropist of the Year Award; and YALI Human Rights Champion.
Most recently, at the Women Changing the World Global Awards in London, I won three awards: Gold Humanitarian Impact—for every life touched; Bronze Rural Impact—for reaching underserved communities; and Bronze People’s Choice—for the incredible supporters who voted with love. Being declared a winner from over 250 nominations from 55 countries is not just about me, it’s about the resilience of the girls we serve, the tireless dedication of my team and the unwavering support of our partners and communities. They remind me that our work matters and must continue.
Any advice for young people, especially girls and aspiring changemakers?
My advice is simple: never underestimate the power of one person to make a difference. You don’t need to wait until you have money, influence or the perfect conditions. I had none of those things when I started GEM International—only a painful story and the passion to turn it into purpose. People said my dream was too big and too impossible, but I chose to believe in myself, stay consistent, and take bold steps forward. That small seed of belief has grown into a globally recognised non-profit changing lives. So to every girl and every young changemaker, I say: believe in your vision. Work hard. Stay focused. Dream boldly. No dream is too big and no barrier too strong if you believe it is possible.