My name is Janet Eze, and I am an author and registered nurse. I founded ADOPT Initiative (Adolescent Development Outreach & Programs for Transformation) in Nigeria, my home country, to address the gaps I observed in adolescent mentorship. It all began with my visits to correctional centers for teenagers, where I uncovered the lack of guidance these young people faced. This discovery drove me to dig deeper, and our team started visiting rural communities, most of them isolated and disconnected from urban areas.

What we found was heartbreaking these communities were plagued by gender-based violence, ignorance, and a lack of education. Many girls didn’t know how or where to report cases of abuse or rape. Others had been forced into early marriages, contracted STDs from abuse, or turned to drugs to cope. These areas were completely unchecked, leaving young people to model their lives after anyone they saw, including those involved in cultism and other vices.

This fueled our passion to intervene. We realized that gender-based violence (GBV) isn’t just an act; it’s a culture deeply embedded in harmful traditions and cycles of trauma. Breaking this cycle requires cultural transformation, driven by mentorship, education, and awareness.

Together with my partners and other volunteers, I launched a campaign to mentor adolescents comprehensively not just through seminars, but by shaping their lifestyles.

We focus on career guidance, sex education, skills development, ethics, health, and law everything needed to help them navigate life and reshape their future.

Our primary focus is on rural areas, where neglect and lack of resources are most acute. These terrains, often inaccessible by road, are rife with petty crime, rape, teenage pregnancies, STDs, and cultism. Yet, these are the communities where the need is greatest.

At ADOPT Initiative, we teach girls self-protection and empowerment, while teaching boys respect for girls and positive masculinity. We don’t stop at one-time engagements; we build relationships with the youth through consistent follow-ups. We visit weekly, help them prepare for exams, cover exam fees, and maintain regular communication to guide them through life’s challenges.

Today, we mentor over 300 adolescents across South-South Nigeria, and the transformations we witness are life-changing. But we can’t do it alone.

We need more partners, mentors, and resources to establish schools, unconventional technical colleges, and community programs. These initiatives must focus not only on technical knowledge but also on fostering mindsets of transformational leadership and resilience.

Our vision is to raise a new generation of empowered young people a generation where women and girls are safe to thrive, excel, and blossom. Together, we can make this a reality.