Ayodeji Bello-Awodoyin is a globally recognised anti-FGM crusader and social impact leader, co-founder of The Frontline End FGM Movement, the world’s largest coalition operating across 16 countries to empower thousands of activists. As Executive Director of the Initiative for Girls’ Right and Health Development (IGRHD), she drives community-based interventions to dismantle harmful cultural practices affecting women and girls in Nigeria and beyond. A survivor-turned-advocate, Ayodeji sits on several international boards, including the Global Media Campaign to End FGM (UK), and has represented Africa’s youth at global forums from New York to New Delhi. With expertise spanning grassroots advocacy, gender policy, and faith-based leadership, Bello-Awodoyin speaks on embodying the convergence of activism and spirituality, championing both an FGM-free world and a Christ-centered generation.

Take us through your career path and what led to FGM advocacy?
At a tender age, I was mutilated by my grandma as that was the cultural expectation so my journey for advocacy stems from not only deep passion for human rights and social transformation but my personal experience. I started campaigning against FGM while I was studying for a degree in Sociology and Anthropology at Obafemi Awolowo University having discovered Osun state had the highest prevalence at that time (76 percent NDHS 2018). I said to myself, I will not leave Osun state the same way I met it so I began to host conversations in my hostel, I vyed for the post of the vice president of the National Sociology and Anthropology student’s association and I won and leveraged my position to create awareness in the university community. After that, I applied and was selected after a competitive process for the former President Barack Obama Young African Leaders Initiative-YALI where I learnt to be a professional Civic leader, I was also equipped by the Global Media Campaign Academy, UK where I learnt everything about FGM and campaign strategies.

With these, I extended my reach to the villages and communities in Osun state leaving the comfort of my university environment. Over the years, I used my pocket money to host projects until we began to have individual donors and funders which enabled us buy radio and TV airtime, Newspaper publications which help us enlighten a larger audience. I have evolved from a grassroots mobilizer into a global advocate for gender equality and the elimination of harmful practices through consistent, visible and life changing interventions to make the lives of girls and women better. Living in environments where Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and other forms of SGBV was normalised, I witnessed firsthand the trauma and silence surrounding it. That experience has ignited a lifelong commitment to dismantle the systems that sustain gender-based violence.

What started as a personal conviction, little steps of awareness campaigns one initiative at a time as gradually evolved into large scale interventions across Nigeria, Africa and the global stages engaging policymakers, traditional leaders, faith actors, and the media. Today, my advocacy spans over a decade and across several continents, merging research, storytelling, youth engagement, local philanthropy, capacity strengthening for other community-based NGOs and community development to amplify the voices of survivors and push for policy reforms.

You co-founded the largest End FGM movement in the world, the Frontline End FGM Movement. What inspired you to take up this cause?
The Frontline End FGM Movement was born from a vision to unify fragmented efforts across Africa and the diaspora. We currently run operate in 16 countries including Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia just to mention a few. Less than 2% of funding on women’s rights issue goes to FGM projects so the frontline end FGM movement was created to sustain the move by giving direct action grants to frontline activists doing the real work. I attended the Global Media campaign to end FGM academy where I was certified as a media campaigner and after that I became a volunteer with the organization then I was hired as a Triple A Activist and grants manager and Country Representative for Nigeria, I became a board member then we founded the Frontline End FGM Movement afterwards and we have reached thousands of Activists, survivors inclusive with hundreds of thousands of dollars. I saw that while many organizations were doing vital work, funds were not getting to the frontline so we thought to support those doing the real work not just organisations with the big names. There was a need for a global network that centered survivors, empowered local champions, and influenced policy simultaneously and I’m delighted at the future of the Frontline End FGM Movement as we create synergy, sharing best practices, and leveraging global platforms for collective action. My inspiration was simple, to ensure that no girl would have to suffer in silence and that everyone genuinely crusading positive change at the grassroots will get the support they deserve.

As Executive Director of the Initiative for Girls’ Right and Health Development (IGRHD), how do you balance grassroots advocacy with policy influence at national and global levels?
My engagements at the community gave me a sit at the global table which means that my experiences at the grassroots inform and sharpen my contributions to national and global policies. At IGRHD, our model integrates grassroots action with strategic advocacy. We started with conversations on campus, production of radio jingles in English and local dialects, Training if survivors and youth activists, production of phone in radio and TV reaching more that 50,000,000 people through 20 + local and mainstream media. We also launched the She Must Know Project, a school Sensitization initiative which seeks to promote comprehensive sexuality education covering topics on FGM, Menstrual health education, Understanding bodily anatomy and human rights amongst others. We also run the Educate Don’t Mutilate Scholarships to help keep girls in school, we have hundreds of girls at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels on our scholarship running to millions of naira with support from Wallace Global Funds, The Frontline End FGM Movement and other private donors. All of these engagements feed into our national and international advocacy, where we engage with ministries, UN agencies, global coalitions, hosting parallel events at United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, Women Deliver Conference and other global gender equality gatherings. This dual approach ensures our policy influence is grounded in authenticity, and our grassroots programs benefit from structural change. It’s a balance that has earned us a seat at high-level policy tables without losing touch with the communities we serve. At the time we founded IGRHD in 2015, Osun state had the highest prevalence of FGM with 76% NDHS 2018 but a decade later of consistent campaigns, it has drastically reduced to 46% with the VAPP ACT domesticated as IGRHD also contributed to it’s domestication. We are current pushing for support for persons living with disabilities.

Having co-produced the docu-drama The Cutter’s Festival, how powerful do you think media is in reshaping mindsets and driving behavioural change around FGM and gender-based violence?
We can’t underestimate the power of the media in our advocacy to crusade any form of change particularly when it centers girls and women’s rights. The Cutter’s Festival was inspired by my true-life advocacy journey, highlighting my struggles and hope but inspiring other frontline activists. We blended documentary and drama to bridge the gap between awareness and empathy. When people see the emotional and spiritual cost of harmful practices, they are more likely to question long-held beliefs. Film, music, and digital storytelling allow us to reach audiences beyond conferences and classrooms. I have seen communities begin to change their narratives simply because a story gave them a new lens. That’s the power of media shifting culture at scale. Now, through Cutter’s Festival, people will get to know that campaigning is beyond passion and wearing branded T- shirts, it is warfare. Cutter’s Festival was screened and premiered in New York at the UNCSW 69th and I can’t wait for the world to see it. My husband Temitayo Awodoyin who is the lead Executive Producer and Director and I put in a lot of effort into the film. We look forward to millions of activists that will emerge by the inspiration this film serves.

Your work intersects faith, advocacy, and leadership. How do you integrate your faith-based initiatives through Testimonies of Christ Charity Center with your activism for women and girls’ rights?
My faith is exactly what fuels my entire advocacy journey, my personal belief has rubbed off on my organisational structure and style. Through my ministry Testimonies of Christ Charity Center, we engage faith leaders and congregations as catalysts for change. We offer scholarships to girls and give seed capital to support women led businesses. We also preach against harmful practices across our digital platforms, promoting the love and life of Jesus Christ our model. Many harmful practices, including FGM, persist because they are wrongly justified by tradition or religion and TCCC is looking to debunk that while preaching the gospel. By creating safe spaces for faith-based dialogues and scriptural education, we’ve seen pastors, imams, and church communities become champions of girls’ rights. I believe that transformation is complete when spiritual renewal aligns with social justice. That’s the essence of my integration faith in action for human dignity. Both my NGO- IGRHD and my ministry Testimonies of Christ Charity Center-TCCC partner in carrying out these interventions. We bring religious leaders as guests on radio and TV shows and also allow them debunk myths surrounding religion backing harmful practices during community dialogues. As we countdown to 16 days of Activism we are prepared to engage more religious leaders in trainings as we also anticipate the Lion and the lamb city wide crusade in Ile Ife.

You’ve represented Africa at major global forums and led international dialogues. How do you ensure that the voices of local women and girls are not lost in high-level policy conversations?
I am the voice of the local women; every opportunity out there is an honour to speak the minds of my people. Inspite of my international exposure, I am still very connected to my roots, I started my advocacy journey in Ile Ife city and I am still here, I have not lost touch with reality even though I’m looking to shine my light in other international communities. Representation is a responsibility, not a title so it’s an honour to represent young people, local activists and survivors. Whenever I speak at the UN or other global platforms, I carry the stories, data, and aspirations of the women and girls I’ve worked with. We use participatory research, community storytelling, and youth fellowships to ensure our global messaging is rooted in local realities. I also mentor emerging leaders from rural areas such as Adetutu Adewunmi – survivor of teenage pregnancy and current director of persons with disabilities project at IGRHD Jesutomisin Amusa- Recent graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University and Fashion entrepreneur Emekeme Oton- exceptional youth leader, Damilola Amoo- Director of Eve’s lounge radio show, Zenani Gbadume- British Council youth leader and IGRHD Lagos State project co ordinator and other amazing superstars so they can eventually take those global stages themselves. True inclusion means moving from speaking for communities to empowering them to speak for themselves.

This year’s theme for the International Day of the Girl Child focuses on ‘The girl I am, the change I lead’. What does this mean to you personally and professionally?
This theme resonates deeply with my life’s mission. Personally, it reminds me that leadership is not defined by titles but by transformation. I was once that girl navigating social expectations, yet determined to lead change. Professionally, it reflects the heart of our programs, empowering girls not just as beneficiaries, but as architects of their own future. Every girl possesses the potential to influence her community, and our role is to equip her with the tools, confidence, and opportunities to do so. The change we seek must be led by the very girls we serve. On this International Day of the Girl Child, I utmost desire is that every girl goes through safe adolescence free of any form or inordinate exposure or violence.

What is your message to the Nigerian girl child who is battling social, economic, or cultural limitations?
You are your first capital, what do you have? Kindly leverage it for a better life. A phone? Post about your passion, a voice? Speak up or sing at your local church or any given opportunity. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to shine your light or do better for yourself and community. Those barricades will become stepping stones if you remain resilient. You are not defined by your circumstances but by your conviction. When I started my campaigns in the university at age 19 / 20, I looked like a joke but here I am with convincing proof of a life of impact and growth. Every barrier you face can become a stepping stone when met with courage and faith. Seek knowledge, build your voice, and align yourself with purpose-driven communities. Seek opportunities to be better, I leveraged professional fellowship programs, you can leverage on online courses or YouTube videos just don’t stop learning and be diligent at what you find yourself hands to do while staying grateful. There are many of us fighting for your right to thrive, so never feel invisible you’re not alone. The world needs your brilliance, your resilience, and your story. You are not a victim of culture; you are who God says you are circumstances notwithstanding. Don’t pity yourself, a girl somewhere has it worse, so brace up and fight just as some of our mothers did for us.

What legacy do you hope your work will leave for the next generation of girls across Africa?
I want my legacy to be that the little thing your hands find to do in your local community can command global attention. I want a future where girls are free from violence, free from silence, and free to lead not afraid of their sexuality being curbed or monitored through FGM or any forms of GBV. A generation that doesn’t just inherit advocacy, but innovation; not just empowerment, but transformation. If my work can inspire young women to merge faith, leadership, marriage, motherhood and activism, to use their voices in boardrooms, pulpits, and parliaments, then I would have fulfilled my purpose. I want them to know that African women are not just recipients of aid, but architects of global change. I am rooting for you, Happy IDGC!