The Ekiti State Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project has launched a Safe Space programme for boys in selected public secondary schools across the state, expanding its focus on inclusive adolescent development and sustaining progress made through girls’ empowerment efforts.
The new programme builds on the Safe Space initiative for girls introduced in Ekiti in 2022. The girls’ programme was expanded from 101 schools to 202 schools by 2024 and reached about 50,000 adolescent girls with structured life skills, health education sessions delivered within school environments.
Speaking on the new intervention, the Ekiti State AGILE Project Coordinator, Mrs Yewande Adesua, said the introduction of Safe Spaces for boys showed the project’s commitment to a holistic and sustainable approach to gender equality in schools. She explained that empowering girls without engaging boys limited the long-term impact of gender-focused programmes.
“Our experience has shown that for girls to thrive, the environment around them must be supportive. By engaging boys through Safe Space sessions, we are shaping positive attitudes and behaviours that promote respect, responsibility and inclusive school environments,” Adesua said.
She added that the initiative aligned with AGILE’s mandate to improve school retention, wellbeing and learning outcomes, particularly for adolescent girls.
Also speaking, the Safe Space Component Lead, Mrs Gbenuola Ayedun, said the programme would begin with a pilot phase in 10 secondary schools across Ekiti State. Ayedun said that 20 facilitators, two per school, were trained between Jan. 12 and Jan. 16, 2026, to deliver the boys’ curriculum.
She explained that the curriculum mirrors the structure and standards of the girls’ Safe Space sessions. According to her, the pilot phase would generate evidence needed to guide scale-up of the programme across more schools.
“The Safe Space model has recorded strong acceptance and impact among girls. Extending the same quality of life skills education to boys will help address peer pressure, harmful stereotypes and behaviours that undermine girls’ empowerment,” Ayedun said.
On her part, Ms Racheal Olori, representing the New Initiative for Social Development (NSID), described the programme as a critical step toward achieving gender-transformative outcomes in the education sector. She said engaging boys deliberately positioned them as allies in promoting girls’ education and wellbeing.
“When boys are equipped with the right knowledge and life skills, they contribute to safer schools and respectful peer relationships,” Olori said.
A facilitator, Dr Kate Afolayan, said aligning Safe Space sessions for both girls and boys would help reduce gender-based bullying, challenge harmful norms and foster mutual respect among adolescents. She said the launch demonstrated AGILE’s commitment to inclusive education in Ekiti State.
