By Obeten Godfrey
In a world where millions of adolescent girls face the dual challenges of limited access to education and the life-altering consequences of teenage pregnancy, urgent action is needed to bridge these gaps. The United Nations estimates that 21 million girls aged 15 to 19 in developing regions become pregnant annually, many of whom are forced to drop out of school. This global crisis is reflected in Nigeria, where early motherhood and educational disparities continue to stifle the potential of young girls, especially in rural communities.
In response to this crisis, Her Voice Foundation, an NGO committed to empowering teenage mothers and at-risk girls, has launched a new initiative in Cross River State. Over the weekend, the foundation introduced the “Girls to Women: Stronger, Bolder Project” in Calabar. This groundbreaking effort aims to directly address the challenges faced by teenage mothers and vulnerable girls in the state.
The launch event drew participation from traditional rulers, government ministries, community leaders, youth groups, and the media. These stakeholders expressed their commitment to fostering positive change and supporting the project, which is backed by the IGNITE Consortium. The initiative targets 500 adolescent girls and teenage mothers across Obanliku, Bekwara, and Obudu, aiming to reduce barriers to education, promote gender equity, and eliminate harmful cultural practices.
The “Girls to Women” project will offer intensive second-chance education programmes, entrepreneurship training, sexual and reproductive health education, and community mobilisation efforts. Through advocacy and policy dialogue, the initiative will work to address gaps in support for teenage mothers and at-risk girls, while soliciting further investment for their development.
Favour Abatang, Executive Director of Her Voice Foundation, emphasised the transformative potential of the project during her opening remarks. “What this initiative aims to achieve is to see how we can reduce the barriers that girls face in accessing education,” she said. Abatang pointed out that harmful cultural practices, such as the resurgence of “money marriage,” continue to limit girls’ opportunities, despite efforts to abolish such practices.
Abatang highlighted the importance of challenging gender norms and stereotypes that prevent girls from pursuing education. “In some communities, people believe that girls should not be educated simply because they are girls. We want to change this narrative. We want girls to be educated, to become stronger and bolder, to secure their futures,” she said.
UN Women Technical Lead on the EVAW project, Ibrahim Nurudeen, also spoke at the event, endorsing the project as a vital step towards empowering young women in the region. “The ‘Girls to Women’ Project aligns with global efforts to empower young women and girls, particularly in areas where gender disparities and cultural barriers have historically limited their opportunities,” Nurudeen stated.
He emphasised the importance of collaboration between stakeholders, government, and civil society organisations to break the cycle of poverty and inequality for young women. “We supported a similar intervention last year, and our role at UN Women will focus on providing capacity-strengthening support to ensure the project’s success,” he added.
The Paramount Ruler of Obanliku LGA, HRM Amb. Uchua Amos Uyumulam (JP), praised Her Voice Foundation’s efforts, particularly in their fight to abolish the “money marriage” culture. He pledged the support of traditional rulers in promoting the project’s goals and promised to use his influence to ensure that other rulers also participate.
“We are solidly behind them and will continue to support them to ensure that they better the lives of girls in our community,” the royal father said.
With the combined efforts of Her Voice Foundation and its partners, the “Girls to Women: Stronger, Bolder Project” promises to offer young girls in Cross River State a second chance at education and a brighter future
In response to the significant challenges of limited education and teenage pregnancy faced by adolescent girls, Her Voice Foundation has launched the "Girls to Women: Stronger, Bolder Project" in Cross River State, Nigeria. This initiative, backed by the IGNITE Consortium, targets 500 girls in Obanliku, Bekwara, and Obudu to offer second-chance education, entrepreneurship training, and sexual and reproductive health education. The project aims to dismantle barriers to education, promote gender equity, and combat harmful cultural practices like "money marriage."
The launch event garnered support from various stakeholders, including traditional rulers and government ministries, who pledged to foster positive change. Executive Director Favour Abatang emphasized the importance of challenging gender norms to enable girls to pursue education and secure their futures. UN Women also endorsed the project, highlighting the need for collaborative efforts to break the cycle of poverty and inequality for young women. The Paramount Ruler of Obanliku LGA praised the initiative and vowed the support of traditional leaders in the mission to eradicate harmful practices and empower young women in the community.
