While growing up in the Polo area of Maiduguri, Borno State, Fatima Muhammad Mafi saw firsthand the impact of the Boko Haram crisis and the disruptions it caused in the lives of young girls.
During that time, her family lived under the constant threat of violence, forced to flee bombings, and also witnessed the tragic loss of lives and properties.
“The loss of some family members and friends left us with emotional scars that are difficult to heal,” Mafi said.
This was the case for Janada Gadzama from the Jere community in Nigeria’s Borno State, who in 2014 broke down after hearing the news of the adoption of the Chibok girls from their schools in Borno.
The heartbreak of seeing the dreams of the abducted girls shattered and growing to realise the limitations imposed on women and girls in her community due to cultural norms fueled her determination to advocate for change.
“That incident in 2014 worried me. I was a young girl then who had similar dreams and potential to those abducted girls. I tried to sit down and think about it,” Gadzama narrated.
“However, I also grew up seeing a lot of gender-based violence issues affecting women and girls in my community, and that was something that inspired me to advocate for change where women and girls’ rights are being respected and protected.”
Both girls had the burning desire to help but didn’t know where to start. For Mafi, a chance encounter in 2021 with a woman working with Plan International Nigeria, an organisation working to promote women’s education and rights in Nigeria, led to her joining the Girls Get Equal – Borno State group.
The Girls Get Equal is a global campaign by Plan International to push “demanding power, freedom and representation for girls and young women,” something that excites both Mafi and Gadzama.
“Their dedication to making a difference in the lives of girls and advocating for their rights deeply resonated with me, igniting my passion for change, and I went on to become an integral part of their movement,” Mafi told Prime Progress.
Earlier in June 2020, someone had invited Gadzama to join the group.
In the group, Girls Get Equal – Borno State volunteers plan and work around campaigning for issues around girl child rights. The groups also serve as a safe space where girls can share their experiences, raise their voices, and advocate for change.
The girls are trained on their rights and asked to mobilise other girls like themselves and spread the message to ensure all girls are empowered to live a successful life.
Transforming and inspiring positive change
Since joining the group, Mafi and her peers have witnessed a transformation in their communities. More girls are now attending school, and harmful practices like early marriage and female genital mutilation are on the decline.
A notable success story shared by 22-year-old Mafi involved persuading girls in the Maduganari community to prioritise education over early marriage.
“One impactful story from our advocacy efforts involves girls in that community who weren’t interested in attending school; all they wanted was to make money through small businesses and get married early as it was the priority of their parents. They were not aware of the importance of education in business and marriage as well,” Mafi explained.
The group intervened and engaged the girls in constructive discussions about the significance of education for girls, thereby convincing them to prioritise it over early marriage.
“Since then, they have come to understand the value of education and started attending school while pursuing their dreams, and I believe their story will serve as an inspiration to many,” added Mafi.
Personally, for 19-year-old Janada, the Girls Get Equal – Borno State group has empowered her with knowledge, training, and opportunities, turning her into a voice for the voiceless and an advocate for the rights of youth, women, and girls.
“The group has empowered me with adequate knowledge and training on capacity building, peacebuilding, girl child education, girl child rights, protection, and safeguarding of women and girls,” Gadzama shared.
The group has also offered her opportunities to represent marginalised groups worldwide, placing her in positions of influence and fostering valuable connections.
Their efforts face limitations
Advocating for girl child rights in Borno State as young girls was no small feat.
“Many in the community were sceptical, and some even resisted our efforts, doubting our ability to bring about meaningful change,” Mafi said.
According to Gadzama, their activities at the Girls Get Equal – Borno State are limited by a lack of adequate funding.
“We have many activities to carry out, but there are no sponsors to fund those projects. That is kind of a barrier to us. Though there are organisations that are helping us sometimes, I believe finance is a major challenge to women-led and local initiatives,” she admitted.
However, as girl child rights advocates, Gadzama and her colleagues are seen as bad eggs in society and are often tagged as feminists.
“They use the word ignorantly against us as a form of insult to downgrade us. It makes me feel bad. Some families think we are there to spoil their children. I feel more awareness and sensitisation campaigns should be done to tackle it,” Gadzama emphasised.
Despite these limitations, their determination and the support of mentors who believed in their potential carried them through.
They carry dreams for the future
Mafi is hoping to become a human rights advocate with a focus on advocating for the rights of girls and marginalised communities.
For Girls Get Equal – Borno State group, their vision is expansive. Mafi said that they aim to continue empowering more girls and advocating for policy changes that not only protect but actively uphold girl child rights.
“Our goal is to be at the forefront of a global movement that champions the rights and potential of girls,” she noted.
As for Gadzama, she is proud of every young girl in Borno State who is influencing changes in their communities, and her dream is simple.
“I want to see every young girl reach her full potential, whereby she isn’t suppressed or discriminated against,” she concluded
Fatima Muhammad Mafi and Janada Gadzama grew up in Borno State, Nigeria, witnessing the traumatic impacts of Boko Haram insurgency and systemic gender-based violence, which motivated them to advocate for girl child rights. They both joined Plan International's Girls Get Equal campaign, which aims to empower girls by promoting education and advocating for their rights. Since joining, they have seen a positive change in their communities, with more girls attending school and a decline in harmful practices like early marriage. However, their advocacy efforts face challenges such as skepticism from the community, lack of funding, and being labeled negatively. Despite these obstacles, Mafi and Gadzama remain committed to their mission, hoping to continue empowering girls and advocating for policy changes that protect their rights.
