As part of ongoing efforts to eliminate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and promote gender equality in Oyo State, Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria (TBI), with the support of UNICEF Nigeria and in collaboration with the Oyo State Ministry of Education, has successfully conducted a one-day training for 100 adolescent boys in Igbeti, Olorunsogo Local Government Area.
The training focused on equipping young boys with life skills, digital literacy, sexuality education, and positive masculinity to form Boys’ Clubs and serve as Gender Champions leading peer-to-peer sessions within their schools and communities. The program is part of TBI’s broader adolescent empowerment framework aimed at fostering youth-driven advocacy to end FGM and other harmful traditional practices.
The facilitation was led by Mrs. Bamidele Oluwapelumi, Programme Assistant at Trailblazer Initiative, and Mr. Dotun Olatunji, Monitoring and Evaluation Associate at TBI. They guided participants through interactive sessions, practical exercises, and group discussions designed to enhance self-awareness, critical thinking, decision-making, and assertive communication. The boys also explored digital tools for advocacy, understanding how to use social media responsibly to amplify anti-FGM messages.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Dare Olagoke-Adaramoye, Executive Director of Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria, commended UNICEF Nigeria and the Oyo State Government for their continuous partnership and commitment to adolescent development and child protection. He emphasized that empowering boys is key to achieving sustainable gender equality, stating that, “Positive masculinity begins with reorienting our boys to become protectors, not perpetrators, of harmful practices.”
The training concluded with participants forming Boys’ Clubs in their schools and communities. These newly trained Adolescent Gender Champions will lead eight peer-to-peer sessions, reaching over 1,200 of their peers with information on gender equality, FGM prevention, and life skills education.
According to Mrs. Oluwapelumi, the initiative is a step toward building a generation of informed, confident, and responsible young men who will stand against gender-based violence and promote respect for women and girls. The participants expressed enthusiasm, pledging to use their voices to influence change and advocate for the abandonment of FGM within their communities.
This milestone reflects TBI’s commitment to promoting youth inclusion, strengthening community structures, and supporting the UNICEF-Oyo State partnership in advancing the elimination of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and all forms of violence against children in the state.
