Her Voice: Her Dream Initiative advances sexual violence reporting across northern Nigeria

My name is Heritage Sanmi-Lawal, and in 2023, my NGO Her Dream Initiative launched the ‘Her Voice Project’, a project aimed at educating girls in secondary schools on sexual violence reporting and curbing rape culture in Nigeria. Her Dream Initiative is passionate about amplifying the voices of women and girls, strengthening reporting systems and revolutionising the role of African women in leadership and economic empowerment. 

This June/July, we went across Government Secondary Schools in Nigeria, addressing both the prevention and response dynamics of sexual violence, hence contributing to SDG 5. This project took place across Northern States in Nigeria, namely, Bauchi, Adamawa, Yobe, Katsina, Niger, Borno, Kano, and Sokoto. 

Due to the sensitive nature of this project, a support network for survivors of sexual violence was simultaneously launched to provide a channel to find healing, counselling and support, which they would provide as an organisation. Her Dream Initiative has trained and experienced pro-bono facilitators who fully support survivors willing to share their story. Furthermore, Her Dream Initiative has direct contact with trained pro-bono lawyers who can handle rape cases at no cost for survivors who decide to report their cases and seek justice. 

So far, the Her Voice project, supported by The Pollination Project, has reached a target of over 2,500 beneficiaries. In 2023, we launched the Sexual Violence Survivor Guide, aimed at educating girls on sexual violence reporting and curbing rape culture.  

The Sexual Violence Survivor Guide is more than an educational or empowerment tool; it is a catalyst for civic engagement, survivor empowerment, and legal action. By equipping young people with the knowledge and confidence to report abuse, seek justice, and challenge rape culture, this initiative directly protects and expands civic space in Nigeria. With further support, we are confident that we can scale this initiative, reach more young girls, and drive systemic change in the fight against sexual violence. 

We aim to make this guide accessible across educational institutions in Nigeria. For more information on how to get this guide to your organisation or school, send an email to herdream.initiative@gmail.com

---

About the author 

Heritage Sanmi-Lawal is a Gender and International Development Consultant, holding a Master's degree in International Human Rights Law at the University of Leicester. With an unwavering dedication to community development and gender equality, she has forged a path of impact spanning over seven transformative years. Through her non-profit, Her Dream Initiative, Heritage has engaged over 4,000 women and girls across 21 countries via podcasts, articles, advocacy campaigns, and outreach programs. In 2023, Her Dream Initiative became a Charity Partner of Thrive Future CIC UK and launched the Sexual Violence Survivor Guide, aimed at educating girls on sexual violence reporting and curbing rape culture. Heritage’s dedication has earned her notable recognition. In November 2024, she was named the winner of the Empowering Change Award by the Global Youth Awards, celebrating her contributions to advancing gender equity and social justice. Additionally, she was recognised as one of the 100 most influential young African Women by Women Who Win Africa. Earlier in 2025, she was also recognised as the Official Commonwealth Flagbearer for the Commonwealth Day of Service 2025. Notably, she serves as an ambassador for the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative on the Prevention of Campus Sexual Violence, a Youth Advisor at Plan International Nigeria, a distinguished YALI Fellow, and a three-time delegate at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (67,68 & 69). 

---

The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Royal Commonwealth Society.