4 Inspiring women changemakers in Nigeria

Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do ~ Nelson Mandela 

Fostering change and impact in our different communities can be challenging, and demanding. However, despite the hurdles, there are great revolutionaries in our communities who are driven with a desire to see the world and everyone around them better. 

These revolutionaries are emphatic, passionate, committed and driven with purpose. 

Here are 4 Inspiring women revolutionaries in Nigeria. They are championing change and impacting the lives of numerous people. 

Favour Abatang; Founder of the largest network redesigning the future of teen moms in Africa. 

Favour grew up in a rural environment where girls faced low access to education and limited support systems. She watched her peers struggle with stigma and isolation after early pregnancies. These experiences shaped her drive to build solutions. During her university years, she organized small discussion groups for young girls. Those early steps became the foundation for her work today.

In Obanliku community, northern part of Cross River State where Favour is from, teenage pregnancy is a menace destroying girls as young as 12 years old. It is a leading cause of school dropout in secondary schools. The rise of teen mums in this community is growing rapidly, and most of the teens are dejected and disowned by their parents and families, with no support, encouragement, or proper care. 

Favour loves to help these teen mums and create a better future for them. She began ‘Campus Babe Initiative’, a non-governmental organization that's passionate about mentoring young women and girls to help them succeed in the University and creating a better future for teen mums in rural communities. 

Favour Abatang is a social entrepreneur championing gender equality and quality education in Nigeria. She has held several revolutionary events to empower teen mums in rural communities which :

• Second Chance Education project for Teen mums in Obudu and Obanliku LGA in Cross River

• Mentorship Programs for teen mums

• Food and Sanitary Pads Distribution for Teen mums in Bekwarra LGA in Cross River State

• Back to School Project for Teen mums 

Campus Babe Initiative has impacted over 5000+ teen mums and young girls in Northern Cross River. 

Abatang firmly believes that the role of women, teen mums and young girls in the world is very important. Therefore, women should be given opportunities to grow, evolve and dominate. 

In her words, “finding your passion, working daily to improve it and being consistent in showing up for it will most likely get you to a future you've always dreamed of” 

She has won various local and international awards for her advocacy and exceptional leadership. 

Abatang is a great inspiration to many young girls. 

Confidence Staveley: Africa's most celebrated cybersecurity leader

In Africa, only 9% of women account for the cybersecurity workforce. There are multiple barriers that dissuade women from choosing carriers in tech. In Confidence Staveley's words, “I live and breathe to contribute however possible, in breaking those barriers because a more equitable world is a more prosperous one”.

Confidence started her career outside cybersecurity. After a personal experience with online fraud, she shifted her focus to digital safety. She studied cybersecurity through self-learning, certifications, and mentorship. During this period, she noticed the low number of women in the field. These insights led her to build training programs that target girls with little or no access to tech opportunities. 

Staveley is a cybersecurity awareness advocate and founder of ‘cybersafe foundation’, a Non- governmental organization that's on a mission to ensure inclusive and safe digital access for young girls and women in Africa. 

Cybersafe Foundation has impacted over 20,000+ young girls in Africa. Through her cybergirls fellowship, many girls have gained great opportunities and knowledge in cybersecurity and technology.

Staveley is passionate about closing the gender gap of inclusion in technology and innovation. Just as Confidence Staveley, we should be inspired to break barriers and excel beyond contemporaries. 

Onor Tawo: A beacon of hope and light to sickle cell warriors in Africa 

According to the National Institute of Health, 150,000 children in Nigeria are born with sickle cell disease SCD annually. Moreso, there are a huge number of households who suffer the strain of having a sickle cell anemic child or relative.

Onor grew up managing Sickle Cell Disease. She faced long hospital stays and frequent medical emergencies. These experiences shaped her understanding of the emotional and financial burden families face with sickle cell patients. After becoming a lawyer, she started speaking publicly about her journey. She saw the need for a structured support system for warriors, which led her to create Okares Sickle Cell Foundation.

Okares Sickle cell foundation is a nonprofit organization that's advocating the prevention, treatment, care, and management of sickle cell disorders and people living with SCD.

Onor is passionately creating a safe space for sickle cell warriors where they can be encouraged, receive hope and be inspired to live their dreams all over Nigeria. Her team has been able to host and carry-out several sensitization campaign such as; 

• Blood Donation Campaign.
• Save a warrior campaign
• Know your genotype campaign

She has also created support groups for sickle cell warriors and they have their support group meetings monthly. 

Onor is an inspiration to many sickle cell warriors. She's the author of the book "Rate your Pain", an amazing book where she shares her story of living with sickle cell and her objective of promoting a sickle cell-free Nigeria. 

Just like Onor, we should be inspired to find a sense of purpose and hope in our pain and thrive beyond our challenges. 

Justina Ovat: Founder of the amazing non profit fostering female entrepreneurship in Calabar, Nigeria 

Female entrepreneurship is often neglected. However, with the rate of evolution going on in our world today, there's even a greater need for young girls and women to be involved in entrepreneurship and skill development. 

Justina started her career in the hospitality industry. She noticed that many young women lacked access to training, mentorship, and industry knowledge. These gaps limited their growth. She started offering free hospitality workshops. The positive results pushed her to establish the JO Foundation.

Justina Ovat is a hospitality trainer and founder of the JO foundation. Driven by the passion of advancing and raising quality female entrepreneurs and impacting females with relevant skills for growth and development, Justina Ovat founded the JO foundation 

Justina has empowered several young girls through her annual impactful events which includes: 

• Teens with skills project
• Ideation series 
• The Graduate Employability and Volunteer Experience Program (GEVEP)

Through their training, teenagers and young women are empowered and equipped with necessary knowledge and resources for relevance. 

In her just concluded ideation series with young girls from different secondary schools which was held on 8th March in commemoration of the international's women day. She inspired and empowered the students to be actively involved in technology and to become committed to their growth and development. 

Justina is an all round inspirational woman who has never settled for mediocrity. We should be inspired to change our lives and that of those around us just like the amazing Justina Ovat. 

Conclusion 

These women show the impact of consistent action. Their stories prove that purpose grows through service. You shape change when you respond to real problems around you. Their journeys remind us to build skills, support others, and lead intentionally.