HACEY, EMpowerUK train 100 Girls in Ogun

HACEY, a non-governmental organization with support from EMpowerUK trained over 100 young girls during a 3-day fellowship held in Owode Egba, Obafemi/Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.

HACEY expressed concern over the lack of basic information among Nigerian girls regarding their rights and menstrual health. Through its Platform for Amplifying Voice and Empowerment of Girls (PAVE) Project, HACEY revealed that this gap leaves many adolescent girls vulnerable to gender-based violence and poor menstrual hygiene practices, exposing them to health and developmental risks.

HACEY’s Programme Officer, Damola Oyetunji, highlighted the critical issues faced by adolescent girls. Noting that many girls, especially those in underserved communities, lack sufficient knowledge about their fundamental human rights and menstrual cycles.

“Girls, particularly in their adolescent stage, often do not have proper information about their basic human rights and menstrual hygiene, which are crucial to their development. This ignorance has led to issues such as sexual harassment, which many perceive as normal,” Oyetunji stated.

“The PAVE Project, supported by EMpowerUK, aims to address these challenges by providing safe spaces for girls to access essential knowledge and resources. The initiative equips both in-school and out-of-school girls aged 12 to 19 years with health, financial literacy, and life skills information, enabling them to make informed decisions about their health, finances, and personal development.”

Speaking on the impact of menstrual hygiene awareness, Oyetunji emphasized the importance of educating girls on personal hygiene during menstruation: “When a 19-year-old girl does not know how to care for herself during menstruation, it can lead to infections and severe health complications in the future. We observed this reality in the communities we visited, and it is concerning.”

The PAVE Project has so far reached over 5,000 girls, empowering them with tools to understand their rights, maintain good hygiene, and develop leadership skills. Oyetunji urged government agencies and stakeholders to deploy resources to ensure more girls receive this vital information.

“We call on policymakers to actively engage with these girls and include their voices in decision-making processes. Before the intervention, many girls in this community believed that sexual abuse was a normal part of life because they lacked awareness of their rights. This must change,” she added.

One of the beneficiaries, Sulaimon Aishat, shared her experience: “Before the PAVE programme, boys often harassed girls in my neighborhood. The training has helped educate us, and things have improved because we now know our rights.”

Similarly, Olarenwaju Temilowu noted the significant impact of the program, stating: “The workshop has taught me to differentiate between right and wrong, and I now know that the rights of girls must be protected at all times.”

HACEY’s PAVE Project continues to create a ripple effect as girls who benefit from the program are encouraged to share their knowledge within their communities. The initiative has not only restored confidence among participants but has also sparked campaigns to address pressing issues affecting girls.