By John Dike, Osogbo
At least 3,600 girls of adolescent age in Osun State are stepping up to challenge the deeply rooted practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
The girls are to champion the new wave of advocacy powered by courage, education, and community engagement.
Leading this transformation campaign is Value Re-Orientation for Community Enhancement (VARCE), a nonprofit organisation, supported by the United Nations Children Education Fund, UNICEF
It has trained over 300 adolescent girls as Adolescent Gender Champions (AGCs).
These champions have, in turn, reached over 3,300 other girls in peer-led efforts aimed at educating their communities and dismantling the cultural silence surrounding FGM.
During an orientation meeting with traditional birth attendants and patent medicine dealers in Ede North Local Government Area, VARCE’s Executive Director, Mr. Adebisi Ademola, described the movement as “a youth-led force for change” rooted in local communities and driven by girls themselves.
He said, “We’re not just encouraging these girls to speak out. We’re helping them take ownership of this cause.
“One girl’s voice can inspire an entire community to rethink old norms.”
The initiative, currently active in Ejigbo, Ede North, Ilesa East, and Ilesa West Local Government Areas, is building a grassroots network of informed and empowered girls who are challenging societal expectations, educating peers, and directly engaging with local stakeholders.
Ademola praised the determination of the girls and the dedication of community facilitators, while expressing appreciation for ongoing support from UNICEF Nigeria, the Osun State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, the Ministry of Health, and the National Orientation Agency.
The impact is already visible. Across Osun, girls who once had no voice in matters affecting their health and dignity are now leading community conversations, confronting long-held beliefs, and pushing for a safer, more inclusive future for the next generation.
Ademola added,“The courage these girls have shown is inspiring.
“They are not just the future — they are the present leaders of this movement.”
As the momentum grows, Osun is becoming a beacon of hope in the broader campaign to end FGM in Nigeria — with adolescent girls at the forefront of the change.
