PAVE girls lead grassroots movement against harassment, bullying, teenage pregnancy in Ogun
By Ephraim Oseji
Determined to protect their peers and create safer neighborhoods, trained young girls from the Platform for Amplifying the Voice and Empowerment of Girls (PAVE) have taken the lead in identifying critical issues like sexual harassment, bullying, and teenage pregnancy within their own communities. Instead of waiting on outside intervention, these young advocates are spearheading a series of powerful community sensitization campaigns across Ogun State to directly challenge the problems affecting their communities.
Running from June 20 to July 1, 2026, this intense grassroots initiative is strategically rolled out across Ota, Sango, and Iloye in Ogun. The campaign underscores the power of building protective structures around young people, particularly adolescent girls, by providing them with safe avenues to lead conversations on critical issues affecting their health, safety, and personal advancement. Over the two-week duration, the project brings together critical community stakeholders, including parents, educators, traditional and community leaders, youth, and residents to build consensus and drive collective action.
The movement kicked off in the Ota community on June 20, where the girls are focused on combating sexual harassment and bullying. Drawing from their training at PAVE safe space sessions, driving change through youth-led advocacy drama, expert awareness sessions, and high-level stakeholder meetings designed to make their neighborhoods safer.
During the interactive sessions in Ota, the impact of the campaign was felt directly through the personal reflections of the participants, which perfectly captured the essence of the entire PAVE program. A parent who attended shared that the program has taught her the importance of maintaining a close, friendship-driven relationship with her children to encourage them to be able to speak to her in case they face harassment or bullying.
One of the PAVE girls in attendance pointed out that girls are often targeted for harassment “Because they assume girls are vulnerable and don’t have backup. They feel like girls don’t have the courage and are not brave enough to stand up for themselves”. She firmly added that because of what she has learned at PAVE, she has the courage to speak up if she faces harassment, and she can advocate for other girls in her community if they face harassment.
Building on the momentum from Ota, the initiative moves directly to Sango on June 27 for the next phase of the movement. Here, the girls will lead a public street rally stretching from Ilebiyi Oyede Street to Alagbole, taking ownership of the streets to prevent teenage pregnancy. During the march, they will use “stop-and-talk” education modules and distribute materials to promote PAVE Safe Spaces as vital resource hubs for their peers.
The final wave of this connected campaign concludes on July 1 in Iloye with an accountability-driven civic dialogue. In this final community, the PAVE youth will share their personal perspectives during a panel session, presenting clear roles for the audience and pushing local leaders to sign formal protection commitments for the future.
Central to the PAVE program’s mission are core pillars advocating that sexual harassment and intimidation have no place in a progressive society. Through this regional deployment, these young advocates are proving that teenage pregnancy is entirely preventable when a community provides adequate educational platforms, open familial dialogue, and institutional support. Every young person possesses an absolute right to physical safety, uninterrupted quality education, and a self-determined economic future.
Going forward, this campaign marks just the beginning of a sustained movement for girls across Ogun State. Empowered with life skills, trusted mentorship, and actionable information regarding their fundamental human rights, these young leaders will continue to utilize PAVE Safe Spaces to monitor their communities, speak out against injustice, and drive lasting social change long after this campaign concludes.
PAVE is a community-based initiative by HACEY to empower young girls (aged 12–19) with essential life, health, and financial skills through safe space sessions, mentoring, and leadership capacity-building so they can make informed decisions and drive meaningful change in their communities. These girls go on to become PAVE girls who serve as peer mentors, community advocates, and champions for safety and equality.
