As part of ongoing efforts to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Nigeria, Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria (TBI), in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Oyo State Government, has empowered over 3,000 adolescent girls to serve as agents of change across four Local Government Areas: Ido, Oluyole, Olorunsogo, and Saki East.
Speaking at a two-day training workshop for Girls’ Clubs, the Executive Director of TBI, Dr. Dare Olagoke-Adaramoye, emphasized the transformative power of youth-led advocacy in ending FGM.
“We are not just training leaders, we are building a movement, one girl, one facilitator, one safe community at a time.”
He explained that the initiative extends beyond awareness-raising. It fosters accountability, strengthens community resilience, and positions adolescent girls at the forefront of the solution. With enhanced Girls’ Clubs, continuous community monitoring, and close collaboration between TBI staff, community facilitators, and adolescent leaders, a sustainable, locally driven movement is gaining momentum in Oyo State.
Adaramoye stressed that the project’s ambitious goal is to eliminate FGM through youth-led innovation, community-based advocacy, and the empowerment of girls as changemakers with over 3,900 girls already trained and mobilized, the vision of an FGM-free Oyo State is more attainable than ever.
He highlighted that FGM remains a pressing public health and human rights issue in the state, sustained by deep-rooted cultural beliefs and social pressure. Despite national legislation prohibiting the practice, enforcement remains weak, and community resistance persists. This underscores the importance of TBI’s grassroots approach, centered on youth empowerment and local ownership.
“This is more than an intervention, it is a movement for good—powered by girls, rooted in community, and driven by the belief that every girl deserves to live free from fear, pain, and discrimination, ” Adaramoye said.
He expressed appreciation to UNICEF Nigeria and the Oyo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion for their steadfast support. He also commended the Adolescent Gender Champions (AGCs) and community facilitators for their dedication, urging them to remain committed and to be worthy ambassadors of the cause.
In her opening remarks, TBI’s Programme Manager, Mrs. Mojisola Omotoye, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to grassroots empowerment. She noted that by nurturing adolescent leadership and promoting collaboration and accountability, Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria is helping to rewrite the narrative around FGM in Oyo State.
She encouraged facilitators to lead with empathy and build trust within existing community structures to ensure long-lasting impact.
