Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria (TBI), in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Oyo State Government has empowered over 6,000 adolescent girls as champions in peer education, advocacy, and safe referrals to combat Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and other social vices in schools and communities.
The initiative was unveiled during a one-day inauguration and mentoring programme, which marked the official launch of Adolescent Girls’ School Clubs across the 33 Local Government Areas of Oyo State.
In his opening remarks. Executive Director of Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria (TBI), Dr. Dare Olagoke Adaramoye, said the girls were selected from secondary schools across the state, representing diverse religious and socio-economic backgrounds.
He explained that the programme focuses on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), mental health, and peer mentorship, with the aim of building a strong movement to end FGM and protect girls from gender-based violence.
“The school clubs and safe spaces will offer a supportive environment for girls to learn from one another, receive guidance, and make safe referrals in cases of abuse or risk of FGM,” Dr. Adaramoye noted.
“They will also serve as platforms for sustained dialogue on SRHR and harmful practices, empowering the girls to lead advocacy in their schools and communities.”
Programme Manager, Mrs. Omotoye Mojisola, emphasized that providing accurate information and safe environments is crucial to dismantling harmful practices.
“Empowered girls become powerful women. They are the change-makers we need to end FGM,” she said, adding that participants were educated on the meaning, types, prevalence, and consequences of FGM, alongside the legal sanctions under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law.
National Orientation Agency Programme Manager, , Mr. Taiwo Aina, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting girls’ rights, stressing that the Oyo State VAPP Law 2020 criminalizes FGM and all forms of gender-based violence.
With UNICEF’s support and state government partnership, TBI is working to nurture a generation of informed, confident, and resilient girls ready to challenge harmful norms and lead lasting social transformation.
