Safety For Every Girl (SFEG) Foundation has announced the remarkable winners of its inaugural National Essay Competition, a groundbreaking initiative in collaboration with MTN Nigeria.
The organisers stated that with an overwhelming response, the competition received close to 2,000 entries from all over Nigeria, showcasing robust participation, including an impressive turnout from the northern part of the country.
It disclosed that on the Teen Category 13-19 years, Aisha Sabo, a Physiotherapy undergraduate at the Yobe State University clinched the crown, while Esther Boniface, a creative writer, entrepreneur and member of The Writer’s Manger Network, is first runner up), and
Sarah Daniel, a poet, essayist, and Law student at the Gombe State University, took the second runner up spot.
On Adult Category winners (20-35 years),
Ufedo Adaji, a skilled radiographer and writer, is the winner. While Victory Osigwe, an advocate for youth mental health, emotional management, and personal well-being is the first runner up, and
Mariam Sulymon, a graduate of Biochemistry from Lagos State University, is the second runner up.
The winners were announced and awarded at the world’s first Period Summit hosted by Safety For Every Girl to commemorate International Women’s Day on March 6, 2024, at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The winners were celebrated for their outstanding contributions to the discourse on eradicating period poverty in Nigeria.
The Founder of Safety For Every Girl, Chioma Nwigwe, said: “The number of entries received blew us away; our essay review panel was almost overwhelmed.”
She congratulated the winners and was grateful for the immense response to the competition, adding: “The essays received reflect the depth of commitment to addressing and combating period poverty in our society. Seeing such passion is heartening, and we look forward to utilising these ideas.”
According to the essay review panel, the winners were selected for their innovative solutions and impactful perspectives on combating period poverty, aligning with the competition’s theme. The award ceremony was a highlight of the SFEG Period Summit, an event that brought together influential voices, thought leaders, and advocates for women’s health.
Onyinye Oti, the director of Research at Safety For Every Girl, stated that: “Safety For Every Girl extends appreciation to all participants, especially our sponsors MTN, Tenece, and Platform Branding Company, as well as the esteemed speakers who contributed to making the Period Summit a resounding success.”
Safety For Every Girl (SFEG) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to dismantling barriers, eradicating period stigma, and empowering girls in marginalised communities across Nigeria to discover their voices. Its impactful approach tackles stigmas, taboos, and inequalities associated with menstruation through service, education, and advocacy. SFEG provides sustainable period management products and conducts educational programs on menstrual health, sparking crucial conversations against period poverty across Nigeria.
