Blog

Benin City, Nigeria – 19 September, 2025 

The Unspoken Fears of Girls in Public Spaces and Call to Action. 

In a heart-wrenching revelation, the second edition of the Voices at the Table (VATT) Citizenship Assembly shed light on the harsh realities faced by adolescent girls and young women in Nigeria. Held on September 19, 2025, at the Grace Agbonlahor Foundation Office in Benin City, the session brought together 15 participants who shared deeply personal stories of insecurity, violence, and trauma.

The Stories Shared

💬 Story 1: Once, Too Many Times

One participant recounted a harrowing experience of being sexually harassed by a church leader’s son. “I was 15 when I was sent on an errand to a church leader’s house to collect a brochure. When I got there, I was told the elder wasn’t home, but his son would attend to me. That’s when he started touching me. I was stunned. I told him to let me go, but he kept touching me without my consent.” The participant’s voice trembled as she recounted the traumatic experience.

💬 Story 2: I Wish I Stood Against Bullies

Another participant spoke movingly about a classmate with Down syndrome who was constantly bullied and isolated by their peers. “I tried to be her friend, but she kept me at arm’s length. I think I understand why. Maybe if I had stood up for her against the bullies, she wouldn’t have seen me as a threat too.” The participant’s words highlighted the need for empathy and inclusion.

💬 Story 3: From a First-Time Birthday Party to Rape

A participant shared a traumatic experience of being raped by a classmate at a birthday party. “I was 14 when I attended my classmate’s birthday party. My first ever that turned into a nightmare. My drink was spiked, I was drugged, and then sexually violated by the celebrant. I got pregnant from that incident, a pregnancy I wasn’t prepared for.” The participant’s voice cracked as she recounted the devastating experience.

💬 Story 4: Even in School

Another participant shared a disturbing experience of being violated by a school’s security officer. “A girl I know trusted the school’s security officer, until he violated that trust. Even in school, girls are not safe.” The participant’s words highlighted the need for safe and secure environments.

Reflection:

These stories reflect a national crisis that is all too often ignored. According to UNICEF, six in ten Nigerian girls experience gender-based violence before the age of 18. The VATT session highlighted the urgent need for action to protect girls and women from violence and insecurity.

A Call to Action

The participants demanded action, proposing solutions that included improved public infrastructure, school-based counseling services, comprehensive sexuality education, community safety task forces, and the engagement of men and boys as allies in creating safer communities for girls.

“We stand firmly with girls who not only dream of safer communities but demand it through bold, practical solutions. At GAF, we are committed to turning their advocacy into action,” said Felicitas Nwadiolu, GAF Manager.

Join the Movement

ImpactHouse and GAF urge stakeholders to take action and prioritize the safety and well-being of girls and women. Together, we can create a safer and more supportive environment for all. You can participate by using the link below. 👇

https://itakeactions.org/voices/

Note to Editors: 

VATT is a girl-led civic dialogue initiative that provides safe spaces for adolescent girls and young women to share their stories, shape public solutions, and participate meaningfully in the civic life of their communities. The project is powered by GAF in partnership with ImpactHouse. Each quarter, a selected group of girls gathers at GAF’s civic hub in Benin City, Edo State, for a physical assembly, ensuring both digital and offline participation. These contributions are consolidated into a quarterly Voices at the Table Report, which is presented to policymakers, development partners, media platforms, and advocacy coalitions.  

For enquiries, please contact: 

Chinomso Momoh
Programmes Manager, ImpactHouse
chinomso@impacthouse.org.ng
+2348087907931

Felicitas Nwadiolu
Foundation Manager
felicitas.nwadiolu@gaf.org.ng
08162272016

About the Partners   

ImpactHouse Centre for Development Communication is a nonprofit working to improve the quality of civic conversations among everyday citizens in Africa to drive responsive and accountable governance. Our work spans critical areas such as civic participation and good governance, gender equity and justice, education and human rights, and media and civil society development. Learn more at www.impacthouse.org.ng   

The Grace Agbonlahor Foundation (GAF) is a girls and women focused organisation working to promote gender equity, education, and participation for girls and women across Nigeria. Learn more at www.gaf.org.ng