Senegal has launched its first elite, all-girls boarding school, the Mariama Ba School of Excellence, located on Goree Island near Dakar. The school aims to empower young women and challenge traditional gender roles prevalent in the West African nation. With full state funding, the school admits 35 students annually, providing tuition and board. A key focus is encouraging students to question societal expectations placed upon girls. Notably, the school boasts a 100% completion rate, signaling its success in supporting students through their education. This initiative marks a significant step towards greater gender equality and access to quality education for girls in Senegal. The school is named after the Senegalese writer Mariama Bâ, a pioneer of feminist literature.