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Summary
Project LEVAWG 2025 empowered over 500 girls and educators in Kwara State through leadership training, public speaking and mentorship. The summit also awarded scholarships and fostered community support to inspire a new generation of female leaders.
On May 14, 2025, the 2025 edition of the annual Leadership and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (LEVAWG) summit was successfully held at Hall 3, Kwara State College of Education. The impactful event gathered over 500 participants, including students, teachers, and volunteers from across the state.
Now in its second year, the summit continues its mission to educate and empower young girls on critical issues such as sexual and gender-based violence, leadership, safety, and economic empowerment. The programme also aims to build advocacy skills, leadership, critical thinking, research, and storytelling among girls.
The success of the Project LEVAWG summit was made possible through key collaborators: Resilient Girl Initiative, .ORG Impact Awards, SheInspires Global Empowerment Initiative, You Can Be Initiative, Project PARTNERS, and Naija Feminist Media. These partners worked together to bring the event to life and ensure its overall impact and success.
About the collaborators
SheInspires Global Empowerment Initiative, founded by Hannah Abedoh, is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to empowering women and girls in underserved communities in Nigeria through education, mentorship, skills training, and community outreach programs.
ORG Impact Awards is a nonprofit, mission-driven organisation focused on creating a safe and trusted online home for mission-driven organisations, where people are able to pursue their goals and positively impact the world around them.
The Resilient Girl Initiative is a feminist-focused organisation with the mission of transforming the future of young girls in Nigeria and across Africa by helping girls navigate life challenges with confidence and self-esteem through mentorship and impactful social campaign projects.
You Can Be Initiative is a newly launched NGO dedicated to empowering young people through transformative programs focused on leadership, personal growth, and sustainable development.
Naija Feminist Media is a vibrant media platform committed to amplifying feminist voices and advocating for the rights and empowerment of women and girls across Nigeria through bold storytelling, impactful reporting, and grassroots-focused initiatives.
Run Down of project LEVAWG 2025
Students arrived as early as 7:00 a.m., welcomed by a team of 13 dedicated volunteers. The day began with an energetic game that set a lively tone among participants from various schools. Joy Oluwatoyin Adeboye, founder of the Resilient Girl Initiative, delivered the opening address.
She shared her personal journey of survivorship, encouraging the girls to turn their pain into purpose. Her 45-minute session explored the concept and different types of leadership, emphasising how young girls can use leadership to end violence against women and girls.
Participants also participated in networking, encouraging meaningful conversations between students, teachers, and volunteers. This was followed by a documentary filmshow highlighting the story of Oluwatobiraji, a survivor who shared her experience of rape and how she found purpose and healing.
One of the summit’s key highlights was the public speaking competition, where 13 schools presented research topics on women’s and girls’ rights in Africa. The event was evaluated by three qualified judges and provided a platform for peer learning and advocacy.
The first prize of ₦20,000 was awarded to a student from Model Secondary School. The second prize of ₦10,000 went to Ansar-Islam Secondary School. The third prize of ₦5,000 was awarded to a student from Muslim High School, Oro.
In a remarkable show of support, the initiative also awarded scholarships to 27 vulnerable girls, reinforcing its commitment to girls’ education and empowerment.
The event concluded with group photographs, affirmations read, and reflections shared by the participants. Many girls gave positive feedback expressing how inspired and empowered they felt, with several pledging to take bold steps toward leadership and change in their lives.
Each partner sent goodwill messages to encourage the girls to keep striving, embrace their potential, and never give up on their dreams. These messages served as a powerful reminder that they are seen, supported, and capable of creating meaningful change in their lives. Their words further emphasised Project LEVAWG ’s mission to inspire confidence, leadership, and resilience in every girl present.
Speaking about the success of the event, Joy Oluwatoyin Adeboye said:
“We hope, as the organisers, that we have the resources and platform to do more and create sustainable change to impact the lives of women. We will continue the feminist mentorship and ensure we dismantle the patriarchy that limits young girls.
“Naija Feminist Media played a pivotal role in the summit by providing coverage of the event and actively advocating for the empowerment of young girls across Nigeria. The success of Project LEVAWG 2025 was made possible through the collaboration of all partner organisations and the generous funding support from the ORG Impact Awards.
“Special appreciation goes to the Kwara State Government for their contribution in securing the event venue at no cost and granting the necessary approvals for the programme.”
Through a series of interactive workshops, mentorship sessions, and leadership training, the 2025 Project LEVAWG summit equipped participants with essential knowledge and tools to prevent and respond to violence. It empowered the next generation of female leaders to rise, lead, and create lasting change.
