BraveHeart Initiative - BHI

14/02/2026

Happy Valentine’s Day!

As you go about the day in celebration of love, remember to always seek informed consent. Ignorance or assumption is not an excuse.

We cannot also emphasise enough that children (minors under the age of 18 in Nigeria) cannot consent to any form of s*xual activities. Valentine’s Day is not a day to lure any child into participating in acts they cannot consent to!

If you r**e, you go to jail. No abeg in BHI’s dictionary.

13/02/2026

13/02/2026

Protection is Power!

Today, BraveHeart Initiative for Youth & Women (BHI) joins the global community to mark International Condom Day. This is a reminder that consistent and correct condom use remains one of the most effective ways to prevent HIV, other s*xually transmitted infections (STIs), and unintended pregnancies. Promoting access to condoms and accurate s*xual health information is essential to building healthier communities.

At BHI, we are committed to empowering young people and communities with the knowledge, tools, and support they need to make informed decisions about their health.

Protect yourself. Protect your partner. Protect your future.

*xualHealthAwareness

13/02/2026

BraveHeart Initiative for Youth & Women is pleased to announce the launch of the MAZARO SGBV Prevention Project with funding support from the Ford Foundation. The MAZARO project will strengthen community actors to shift harmful social & cultural norms, change harmful religious beliefs & practices, resist patriarchal narratives and address the systemic violation of girls and women in Edo State.

Customs and religion have been a veritable tool for the suppression of women’s rights in rural areas of Edo State as the rights of women are often denied on the inexcusable grounds of culture and religion. The patriarchal nature of rural communities and structural dysfunction of our society aggravates social imbalance through economic deprivation of women and exclusion from traditional leadership. The MAZARO project will empower rural women, custodians of culture and religious leaders to challenge socially constructed roles as well as the abuse, misuse and misinterpretation of religion. The project will spotlight stories of community accountability through culture leaders advocacy for change and highlight the roles of religious leaders in transformational leadership for paradigm shifts in women’s rights narratives.

We call on residents of Akoko-Edo who are interested in working with BHI as MAZARO Champions to be at our office on February 14 at 2pm for the pre-qualification assessment.

Together, we can strengthen SGBV prevention efforts in Akoko-Edo.

12/02/2026

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, The Agbame Women Fitness Club is leading a Fitness Walk for Child Protection!

This fitness will be supported by security personnel will be held on Saturday, February 14th, 2026 at Igarra. The take-off point is Orere Junction by Enwan Road and the convergence time is 6am.

Dress Code - Comfortable shoes accompanied by a Red or White Top on a Black Trouser.

Who can participate in the Fitness Walk?
1) Igarra residents interested in child protection especially protection from rapists.
2) Igarra Youths who are fans of BHI & commit to orderliness during the entire fitness walk.
3) Igarra Women desirous of physical fitness

12/02/2026

11/02/2026

Women are breaking barriers one discovery at a time!

Today, February 11, we join the world to celebrate the International Day of Girls and Women in Science a day dedicated to the brilliant minds of female trailblazers in STEM.
From labs to lecture halls, hospitals to engineering sites, Nigerian women and girls are proving that science belongs to them. We celebrate every woman who dared to challenge the status quo, and we encourage every young girl to pursue her curiosity boldly.

The future of STEM is brighter when girls are strategically supported to build and nurture their interests and passions, and we at BraveHeart Initiative for Youth & Women remain committed to empowering girls in communities across Edo State to achieve their STEM dreams.

HerStoryInSTEM WomenEmpowerment BHInigeria STEMforGirls

11/02/2026

Women are breaking barriers one discovery at a time!

Today, February 11, we join the world to celebrate the International Day of Girls and Women in Science a day dedicated to the brilliant minds of female trailblazers in STEM.
From labs to lecture halls, hospitals to engineering sites, Nigerian women and girls are proving that science belongs to them. We celebrate every woman who dared to challenge the status quo, and we encourage every young girl to pursue her curiosity boldly.

The future of STEM is brighter when girls are strategically supported to build and nurture their interests and passions, and we at BraveHeart Initiative for Youth & Women remain committed to empowering girls in communities across Edo State to achieve their STEM dreams.

08/02/2026

[Repost from Annie’s Initiative for Gender Equality & Advancement]

Zero Tolerance for Female Ge***al Mutilation (FGM)
Today, we stand in solidarity with millions of girls and women around the world as we mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Ge***al Mutilation.

FGM is a harmful practice that violates the rights, dignity, health, and bodily autonomy of girls and women. It has no medical benefit and leaves lasting physical, emotional, and psychological scars. Culture should never be used as an excuse for violence.

At Initiative for Gender Equality and Advancement (IGEA), we are committed to:
Ending all forms of gender-based violence, including FGM
Raising awareness through community sensitization and advocacy

Promoting girls’ and women’s rights to safety, health, and dignity

Engaging communities, traditional leaders, and young people to challenge harmful norms

Empowering girls to know their rights and speak up

Today is not just about awareness—it is about action.
Together, we can protect every girl.
Together, we can end FGM.
Her body. Her rights. Her future.

IGEA StopGBV

07/02/2026

As we reflect on collective actions across Edo State on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Ge***al Mutilation, we amplify the voices of Justice Development & Peace Centre Benin.

We reinforce our commitment alongside JDPC Benin to continue to push for the elimination of female ge***al mutilation in Edo State and across Nigeria.

06/02/2026

Today, on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Ge***al Mutilation (FGM), BraveHeart Initiative for Youth & Women stands resolute in our commitment to eradicating this harmful practice that violates the rights and well-being of women and girls in Edo State.

We urge the Edo State Government to prioritize sustained funding and strategic investments aimed at ending FGM across the state by 2030. Through collaborative efforts, education, and community empowerment, we can foster a society where every girl thrives free from violence and discrimination.

Join us in amplifying this call to action. Together, we can build a future of equality and safety for all.