Ikpemosinmhe Oshiogiemhe, Esther Edeani, Loveth Michael, Justina Ejembi, Treasure Segun

The TEC Girls Vanguard: Ikpemosinmhe Oshiogiemhe (13), Esther Edeani (14), Loveth Michael (17), Justina Ejembi (13), and Treasure Segun (17), are from Nigeria. Living in Jikwoyi, Abuja, where gender-based violence, child marriage, and educational disruption threaten girls every day, these five refused to stay silent. Driven by a firsthand understanding of how these dangers affect a girl’s safety and future, they became grassroots peer educators, determined to protect not just themselves but their peers, including girls with disabilities and those from marginalized backgrounds.

The girls persuaded two local community leaders to break long-standing silence and allow public campaigns on sensitive gender issues, a major shift in local governance. They also engaged with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Justice, securing a landmark agreement to bring inclusive sports programming to girls in schools across Abuja, using athletics as a tool for empowerment. They produced educational videos simplifying the VAPP Act 2025 into language adolescent girls could understand, shared through Ministry channels and TEC’s YouTube.

The impact has reached over 5,000 people through digital engagement, alongside real institutional change. With mentorship from Tabitha Empowerment Centre and backing from government partners, these five girls are proving that adolescent girls shouldn’t just be protected by the law, they can help write and communicate it too.