A MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDER
Every movement for change is shaped by those who dare to stand against injustice. The 2026 #VAVWomen List is a tribute to 25 extraordinary women who are not just raising their voices but using their influence, leadership, and advocacy to challenge gender-based violence (GBV) and build a more just and equitable society.
Through their work in activism, policy-making, education, healthcare, media, law, and community engagement, these women have become forces of change, reshaping narratives, providing support for survivors, and holding systems accountable. Each of them represents the resilience, courage, and vision needed to create a world where every woman and girl is safe, heard, and empowered.
This is a space to honor and amplify their impact.
Here, you’ll find their stories, advocacy journeys, and digital footprints, offering a deeper insight into the work they do and the communities they serve. These women are not just voices against violence; they are the architects of a future free from oppression and harm.
I invite you to explore, learn, and engage with their work. May their stories inspire action, fuel conversations, and mobilize more voices to join the fight against gender-based violence.
With gratitude,
Bidemi Adedire
Founder, The Smile Outreach
Meet the VAVWOMEN2026
Dr. Saadatu Adamu
Rehabilitation Counselor | Founder, Secure-D-Future International Initiative (SDF) | President, Psychotherapeutic and Counselling Research Institute (PCRI)
Dr. Sa’adatu Adamu is a highly accomplished mental health counsellor, educator, advocate, and leader with over a decade of impactful experience promoting mental health awareness, trauma recovery, gender inclusion, and educational development across Africa. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Secure-D-Future International Initiative (SDF), a leading organisation dedicated to mental health advocacy, substance abuse rehabilitation, support for survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence, and youth empowerment
Professor Fatima Waziri-Azi, PhD
Founder, Safe Haven Foundation
Professor Fatima Waziri-Azi, PhD, is a legal and development expert with over 20 years’ experience in Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), Trafficking in Persons, Rule of Law, and Gender Justice. She is a Professor of Public Law at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and the immediate past Director-General of NAPTIP. In 2016, Prof. Waziri- Azi founded the Safe Haven Foundation, an organisation dedicated to the protection of women and children.
Abosede George-Ogan
Founder, Women in Leadership Advancement Network (WILAN)
Abosede George-Ogan is an experienced tri-sector leader and development professional with over 20 years of experience across the public, private, and non-profit sectors, dedicated to improving health, education, and economic outcomes through a lens of equity and social inclusion. As the founder of the Women in Leadership Advancement Network (WILAN) Global and a Vital Voices Fellow, she utilises her strong expertise in program management and policy implementation to impact lives across more than 30 states in Nigeria and five cities in West Africa.
Mercy Ejeh
Social Impact Communications Manager | Founder Esteem Empowerment Network
Mercy Ajeh is a humanitarian, passionate advocate of the SDGs, and Social Impact Communications Manager. She uses her skills as a media and communications strategist to raise awareness about social issues and advocate for change through media campaigns, conversations, and storytelling for advocacy. She hopes to see a world where everyone is treated right, regardless of their status, class, or background, and she believes that the SDGs are a great tool to achieve this if everyone gets involved.
Monisola Aiyekusehin
Founder of Betharbel Foundation
Monisola Aiyekusehin is a passionate educator, social impact leader, and the founder of Betharbel Foundation, a nonprofit that provides free education, psychosocial support, and daily meals to over 300 internally displaced children in Abuja, Nigeria. A survivor of domestic violence and a single mother of five, Monisola turns pain into purpose, building safe spaces where children and women can heal, learn, and thrive.
Joy Johnson Agbo
Health Care Professional | Educator
Joy Johnson Agbo is a dedicated nurse, midwife, mental health and psychiatric nurse, university lecturer, course advisor, and passionate advocate for the rights and wellbeing of women and girls.
With a career grounded in service and compassion, she has consistently used her professional platform to champion the protection and empowerment of school-age girls and young women. Joy has worked tirelessly to combat violence against girls, particularly within academic environments. At Cyprus International University, she has led and participated in conferences, advocacy movements, and awareness initiatives focused on ending abuse and violence against young girls.
Aderonke Olisa
Founder, Ladies of Virtue and Excellence International Foundation (L.O.V.E.)
Aderonke Olisa is a passionate gender advocate and public health professional with over 7 years of experience in Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) programming. She is deeply committed to creating safe, inclusive, and empowering spaces for adolescent girls and young women across Nigeria and beyond. She is the Founder of the Ladies of Virtue and Excellence International Foundation (L.O.V.E.), a nonprofit that equips girls and young women through education, entrepreneurship, mentorship, and leadership development, preparing them to become global influencers for excellence and purposeful living.
Deborah Makoji
Journalist
Deborah Ocheni is a journalist with the New Telegraph Newspaper. A passionate media professional dedicated to amplifying the impact of NGOs and social causes. With a keen eye for storytelling and a commitment to driving visibility, Deborah has been a trusted partner for non-profits seeking to reach wider audiences and create meaningful change. Through strategic media outreach, content creation, and campaign management, she has worked with the UNWomen and Federal Ministries and NGOs like CEE-HOPE, HYPREP, and many more to shine a spotlight on critical issues, from Gender Based Violence, domestic workers’ rights, to environmental remediation and youth empowerment.
Ethel Osahale
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) advocate
Ethel Oseghale Attah is a Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) advocate, programme strategist, and community engagement practitioner dedicated to advancing the health, dignity, and protection of women and girls. Her work spans Nigeria and the United Kingdom, where she supports migrant, refugee, and displaced communities to access accurate health information, justice pathways, and protection services.
Añuli Aniebo Ola-Olaniyi
Founder & Executive Director, HEIR Women Hub · Nigeria
Añuli Aniebo Ola-Olaniyi is a Nigerian development professional, gender specialist, and humanitarian advocate recognised for her work in female leadership and workplace safety. She is the Founder and Executive Director of HEIR Women Hub (formerly HEIR Women Development), a social enterprise dedicated to positioning girls and young women in leadership and decision-making roles.
Bukky Shonibare
Executive Director of Invictus Africa
Adebukola (Bukky) Shonibare is a distinguished Nigerian human rights activist, civic-tech leader, and legal scholar. She is widely recognised for her role as a co-founder and strategic team member of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, which advocated for the rescue of the 276 Chibok schoolgirls abducted in 2014.
Dr. Eleanor Nwadinobi
Medical Doctor, Gender and Human Rights Consultant| President, Windows Development Organisation, WiDO.
Dr. Eleanor Ann Nwadinobi is a prominent Nigerian medical doctor, human rights activist, and global authority on gender-based violence and women’s health. She is notably the first Nigerian to serve as the International President of the Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA) in its over 100-year history.
DivineGift Oparaocha
The Scientist Advocate
DivineGift Oparaocha is a Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) instructor & Human Rights Advocate and a beneficiary of the YouthLab Fellowship in the Sexual Grooming Cluster.
A dedicated medical laboratory scientist, public health expert, and passionate advocate for human rights. As a certified Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) instructor, she works tirelessly to promote awareness, prevention, and response to SGBV, while empowering survivors and communities. Through her expertise in Medical laboratory science and public health, she contributes to health system strengthening, disease prevention, and health promotion.
Veronica Pana Igube
Co-Founder, We Ignite Lives for Greatness Nigeria Initiative (WiLG)
Igube Veronica Pana is a Lawyer with a specialization in Information Communications and Technology (ICT) Law. She is a digital rights champion, women’s and child rights advocate, passionate about human rights, education and youth empowerment. She is the Co-Founded We Ignite Lives for Greatness Nigeria Initiative (WiLG), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) focused on promoting human rights, especially the rights of women and children, advancing youth and women development.
Rejoice Abe Chiwar
Midwife, sexual and reproductive health (SRH) advocate
Rejoice Abechiwar is a Nigerian midwife, sexual and reproductive health (SRH) advocate, and community development leader committed to advancing women’s health, adolescent wellbeing, and social justice. With a strong professional foundation in midwifery and public health-focused advocacy, she has dedicated her career to addressing systemic gaps in maternal health, gender-based violence (GBV) prevention, menstrual hygiene management, and youth-centred SRH education.
Alu Azege ANIPR
Founder and Executive Director, Media, Health and Rights Initiative of Nigeria (MHR)
Alu Azege is a distinguished Nigerian development communications strategist, media innovator, and gender justice advocate with over two decades of experience leveraging media as a powerful tool for gender justice, public health transformation, youth empowerment, and rights-based advocacy. She is the Founder and Executive Director of the Media, Health and Rights Initiative of Nigeria (MHR), a pioneering organisation advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), digital safety, and participatory civic engagement through strategic communications and technology-driven solutions.
Oluwapelumi Adedotun
Executive Director The Pearl Foundation
Pelumi Adedotun is a Child Development and Policy Advocate with a strong background in communications and human rights law. She holds a Diploma in Child Psychology from the London School of Business and Social Sciences and is currently pursuing an LLM in International Human Rights Law. Through her work with UNICEF Nigeria, The Pearl Foundation, and Wholesome Child NG, Pelumi combines evidence-based child development practices with advocacy and policy expertise. She is passionate about equipping parents, teachers, and institutions with the tools to raise resilient children, while shaping policies that protect and promote children’s rights globally.
Barr. Ihechi Olarenwaju
Legal Practitioner and Author, My Body Safety Guide for Kids and Teens
Ihechi is a dedicated legal professional and development practitioner with nearly a decade of experience in advocacy, capacity building, psychosocial support, and legal counselling. With a strong background in the humanitarian and development sector, she has played key roles in designing and implementing programs that address Gender-Based Violence (GBV), child and women empowerment, youth development, socio-economic systems strengthening, and peacebuilding. Her expertise spans strategic planning, team leadership, and facilitating transformative training sessions. Ihechi is also the author of “My Body Safety Guide for Kids and Teens” and is deeply passionate about preventing sexual abuse and SGBV.
Victoria Aliu
Youth Development Strategist, Founder of Girls & More
Victoria Aliu is a Nigerian youth development strategist, author, and gender equity advocate dedicated to advancing safe spaces, quality education, and economic empowerment for women and girls. She is a vocal advocate against violence in her community, consistently working to address its root causes through awareness, education, and structured empowerment initiatives. She is the founder of Girls & More that spare head PROJECT RURAL MENSTRACARE (PRM).
Shuaib Nafisat
Advocate for youth development, child rights, and women’s empowerment
Shuaib Nafisat is a graduate of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, where she earned a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) in English in 2023, graduating as the Best Graduating Student in her department. Her academic excellence reflects her strong commitment to scholarship, leadership, and community impact. She is a passionate advocate for youth development, child rights, and women’s empowerment. Through her social media platforms, she actively engages young people in meaningful conversations, using digital spaces as tools for advocacy, awareness creation, and social transformation.
Amb Salihu Honest Gode
Executive Director Ominya Initiative
Amb Honest Salihu Gode is a Nigerian peacebuilder, human rights advocate, and gender justice leader with a strong track record of grassroots and policy-level engagement in preventing violence and promoting inclusive peace. She is the Executive Director of Ominya Initiative, a youth-led organisation committed to advancing peace, gender equality, good governance, and community development across Nigeria. With extensive experience in civic engagement, Amb Honest has led and coordinated initiatives addressing gender-based violence, harmful traditional practices, women’s political inclusion, youth leadership, and community security. Her work emphasises survivor-centred approaches, community dialogue, and preventive advocacy that challenge structural and cultural drivers of violence against women and girls.
Ekeh Joy Chinyere Ayo
Gender Equality Advocate and Co-founder Dynamic Development Initiative for Social Growth
Jace Ekeh is a dynamic compere, gender advocate, and education consultant with over a decade of experience advancing the rights, voices, and leadership capacity of women and girls through education, mentorship, and advocacy. She is the Founder of Strong Women Network (SWN), established in 2014, a non-governmental organization that has directly impacted over 14,875 women and girls across five Nigerian states – Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Port Harcourt, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT); with a growing footprint in Ghana and Malawi.
Lois Musa Zirakwa
Miss Adorable Northern Nigeria Queen of Culture 2025/2026
Lois Musa Zirakwa is a young lady in her 20s, a model, and a pageant queen. She currently holds the title of Miss Adorable Northern Nigeria Queen of Culture 2025/2026 and previously held the title from 2024 to 2025. Her office focuses on women, youth, and children. In this capacity, she has worked as a facilitator under the Women in Politics Forum, educating women on gender-based violence and ways to address it. Lois has also initiated projects, including the “Dignity and Knowledge Project” for the International Day of the Girl Child on October 11, 2025. She continues to champion causes impacting women and children.
Abundance Dickson
SRHR Advocate
Abundance Dickson is a passionate youth advocate and the visionary behind the Flow with Dignity Project. She is a beneficiary of the YouthLab Fellowship under the Menstrual Equity cluster. A passionate and results-driven social impact practitioner dedicated to advancing the health and wellness of adolescent boys and girls, while actively advocating for gender equality and equity. Her work centers on building the capacity of young people in leadership, health, research, and advocacy, leveraging evidence-based research and community-centred interventions to create meaningful change.
Toluwaloju Victoria Oluwatosin
Gender Advocate | Media & Development Communicator
Toluwaloju Victoria Oluwatosin is a broadcast journalist, gender advocate, and a beneficiary of the YouthLab Fellowship under the Menstrual Health cluster. In 2022, she sensitized 100 secondary school girls on menstrual health, distributing sanitary pads and mentoring them on self-esteem. By 2023, her outreach expanded to 600 students across three schools. Collaborating with organizations like the Sophia Nadia Foundation and Brain Builders Youth Initiative, she leveraged her story to inspire young girls and educate them about making informed life choices. In 2025, launched the Pad Her Right Campaign as a result of the Smile Outreach Youth and Adolescent Lab fellowship.
Nnedi Jane Ugwu
Gender Equality Advocate and Co-founder Dynamic Development Initiative for Social Growth
Nnedi Jane Ugwu is a visionary Nigerian gender equality expert, advocate, and co-founder of the Dynamic Development Initiative for Social Growth, where she serves as Programme Manager. With over a decade of experience across grassroots organisations, donor-funded programmes, and cross-sector collaborations spanning Nigeria’s diverse regions, she has become a trusted bridge-builder for women’s and girls’ rights.