A non-governmental organisation, Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), has expanded its educational school programme (WESP) to four secondary schools in Ogun and Oyo States, with the aim of empowering girls and protecting them from sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).

The initiative, supported by the Girls Opportunity Alliance (GOA), was designed to equip adolescent girls with life skills, leadership abilities, and practical knowledge needed to prevent and respond to abuse.

The participating schools include Remo Secondary School (RSS), and Sagamu High School, in Ogun State, as well as Fiditi Grammar School and Ilora Baptist Grammar School in Oyo State.

The programme trained 5,500 girls, comprising 500 direct beneficiaries and 5,000 indirect beneficiaries.

Additionally, 500 parents and caregivers, as well as 20 members of school management teams, benefited from the programme.

The initiative also sought to build peer-led protection and support systems within schools to encourage safe reporting and collective responsibility.

The foundation explained that the programme aimed to increase the capacity of caregivers and school leadership to prevent and respond appropriately to abuse, while also equipping girls with leadership, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.

“Over the years, WESP had recorded measurable improvements in students’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours related to gender-based violence, as well as increased help-seeking behaviour and reduced cases of abuse in intervention schools across Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo States.”

The Director of International Programmes, Girls Opportunity Alliance, Mrs Tsehaitu Retta, noted that investing in girls means investing in safer, stronger communities, adding that when girls feel safe, supported, and informed, everything changes for them, their families, and their communities.

The foundation added that WESP was a scalable, evidence-based model that addressed gaps in life skills education, school safety, and gender-sensitive mentorship.

Through continued collaboration with partners, schools, and communities, WARIF aims to sustain efforts to empower, protect, and enable adolescent girls to achieve their full potential.