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By Zika Bobby
Safety is often discussed as a personal responsibility, but for the Nigerian woman, it is an intricate navigation of systemic gaps. On March 13, 2026, Safety For Every Girl (SFEG), in a landmark partnership with MTN Nigeria, gathered in Lagos to transform these live realities into a national mandate: The 2026 Period Summit.
Under the theme “Her Safety, Her Power,” the summit marked a departure from traditional awareness campaigns. It signalled a move toward “strategic intelligence”—a data-backed, intergenerational effort to dismantle what SFEG calls the “architecture of silence.”
“Safety is not a luxury; it is a fundamental right that dictates the economic and social stability of a nation,” said Chioma Nwigwe, Founder of SFEG. She pointed to a sobering economic reality: “With menstrual products costing upwards of ₦3,000 in a nation where the minimum wage struggles to keep pace, the ‘Pink Tax’ is more than a burden—it is a barrier to education and earning potential. When we protect the girl, we secure the future of the state,” she said.
The summit featured a formidable lineup of speakers designed to bridge the gap between veteran wisdom and youth innovation. Key participants included: Laila St. Matthew-Daniel, legendary executive coach and activist; Dr. Glory Edozien and Olori Coitus; cultural catalysts Beauty Tukura and Alex Unusual; and strategic leads Elizabeth Osho and Chimezie Arogundade. Simisola Gbadamosi and Angel-Divine Onyebuchi, teenage trailblazers, also shared their perspectives.
A highlight of the event was the live inter-school debate, where students argued: “Who bears the primary responsibiliwty for teaching girls about personal safety: families or schools?” The session was presided over by a distinguished jury, including media icon, Chude Jideonwo, global teen tech-advocate Mojoyinoluwa Adeshina, and Uju Okafor, Head of Legal at SFEG.
According to Opeoluwa Owoka, Board Member and Director of Programs, SFEG was founded on the powerful belief that every girl deserves to grow up safe, informed, and confident in her body.
”For too long, girls have had to navigate adolescence without the knowledge, resources, and support they need,” Owoka said. “The Period Summit exists because the challenges facing women and girls cannot be solved in isolation. Period poverty, gender-based violence, and lack of reproductive health education are interconnected systemic barriers. Across communities, girls still miss school because they lack products or safe facilities. What seems like a few missed classes turns into lost career opportunities and reduced academic performance.”
Ruth Kadiri, award-winning actor, filmmaker, and producer, added: “Honestly, film influences how people think without them even realizing it. In Nollywood, we enter people’s homes every day. So when you see a story about a woman feeling unsafe, it doesn’t feel distant; it feels personal. Once it feels personal, people start paying attention differently.”
She continued: “Storytelling gives language to experiences many struggle to articulate. It validates victims without exposing them. And the truth is, when enough people are talking, leaders have to listen. Stories create awareness, awareness creates pressure, and pressure creates change.”
Ejiroghene Udu, Founder and CEO of Premium Power Solutions Limited (PPS Ltd), noted that the biggest silence is the quiet adjustments women make every day just to feel safe. “Being extra careful, holding back, thinking twice before speaking or showing up fully—it’s become so normal that many women don’t even question it anymore. But over time, it limits how freely they live, work, and grow. To break that cycle, we must create spaces where safety is expected, not something you have to fight for.”
Dr. Laila St. Matthew-Daniel, Transformation Strategist and GBV advocate, noted that the biggest shift needed is a move from telling women how to stay safe to holding systems and people accountable for making spaces safe in the first place. “A big part of that is ensuring men are not just aware of these conversations, but actively in the room. You can’t solve a problem if half of the people connected to it are missing from the conversation.”
The summit also served as the grand finale for the National Storytelling Competition, which saw hundreds of Nigerian women and girls submit entries on the topic: “The Day I Felt Unsafe as a Nigerian Female.” Winners were rewarded from a ₦1,250,000 prize pool, supported by MTN Nigeria, during a high-profile presentation ceremony.
Dr. Onyinye Oti, SFEG’s Director of Research, emphasized that safety risks are rarely isolated incidents. “Across our research, a consistent pattern emerges: the risks women navigate daily—from domestic violence to digital abuse—reflect deeper structural gaps in how societies protect women. The summit creates a space where lived experience, research, and policy leadership converge.”
By bringing men into the room and holding systems accountable, SFEG and MTN Nigeria are building a future where safety is no longer a fight, but an expectation.
SFEG is a mission-driven organisation dedicated to the protection and empowerment of Nigerian women. Through research and advocacy, they aim to ensure every female has the mental and physical space to lead and thrive.
