A Journey of Empowerment and Advocacy
Favour Abatang is a dedicated advocate for girls’ and women’s rights, hailing from Cross River State in Nigeria. With a degree in Philosophy from the University of Calabar, she has become a powerful voice for marginalized communities through her work as the Founder and Executive Director of Her Voice Foundation. This non-profit organization focuses on empowering teenage mothers and at-risk girls across Nigeria, providing them with the tools they need to build better futures.
Her passion for advocacy was ignited by personal loss and the harsh realities faced by girls in underprivileged communities. “After losing my mother at the age of ten, I saw first-hand the struggles of girls from disadvantaged families,” she recalls. “That experience shaped my determination to ensure they are not denied opportunities simply because of where they were born or what they went through.”
Founding Her Voice Foundation
In 2020, Favour founded Her Voice Foundation, initially known as Campus Babe Initiative, with the mission of providing second-chance education, livelihood support, and advocacy for girls who have been pushed to the margins of society. “We focus on breaking barriers to girls’ education and ending harmful practices such as child marriage, money marriage, and all forms of gender-based violence,” she explains.
The foundation operates in rural and underserved areas, particularly in southern Nigeria, where support systems are often weak or non-existent. Favour remembers a pivotal moment that changed her perspective: “Five years ago, I saw a 12-year-old girl pregnant and married off early. That moment changed everything for me.” She highlights the alarming statistics in Nigeria, where 44% of girls are married before their 18th birthday, and in some rural areas, this number rises to nearly 60%.
Impact and Achievements
Since its inception, Her Voice Foundation has reached over 7,500 girls across 12 communities, offering literacy, life skills, vocational training, and psychosocial support. “These girls are not just statistics. They are dreams waiting to be realized,” Favour says.
The foundation also runs campaigns to challenge harmful cultural practices. In 2023, with support from UN Women under the Spotlight Initiative, it led a campaign in Becheve, Cross River State, to combat the resurgence of money marriage. “We mobilized 1,000 men as allies and engaged 200 traditional rulers who pledged to abandon the practice,” she explains. “Our policy brief became an advocacy tool, resulting in policy dialogue and survivor assistance.”
Expanding Reach and Support
Her Voice Foundation’s Second-Chance Education Programme enrolled 500 learners and equipped 2,000 girls with tools for financial autonomy. A radio show hosted by the foundation reached two million people online, while 1,500 community members pledged to promote girls’ education.
When it comes to selecting beneficiaries, Favour emphasizes the importance of meeting each girl where she is. “We meet each girl where she is, listening to her story and assessing what kind of support she needs most,” she explains. “What matters most is not just vulnerability, but the willingness of the girl to take a step forward, however small, toward her second chance.”
Funding for the foundation comes from a mix of international partners, local organizations, and individual donors. Notable supporters include UN Women, Inspiring Girls, IGNITE, and Project Nightfall Philanthropy. “We continue to build partnerships, recognizing that long-term impact requires broad collaboration and diverse sources of support,” Favour says.
Leadership and Vision
Running the foundation has been both challenging and rewarding for Favour. “We have a team of over 60 people, mostly volunteers,” she says. “It has taught me to first lead myself, to believe in the importance of what we are doing, and then to lead others with vision and purpose.”
She emphasizes that coordination goes beyond the office. “It’s about making sure our team is in sync with community leaders, schools, the government, other development partners, and most importantly, the girls themselves.”
Favour’s work has earned her international recognition. In 2023, she received the Princess Diana Award for social action and humanitarian work. In 2025, she was named one of the 100 Reputable Women of African Descent. Since 2022, she has served as a National Gender Youth Activist with UN Women and delivered a TEDx Talk titled “The Power of a Second Chance.”
A Global Vision
Favour’s vision is to grow Her Voice Foundation into a global institution for girls’ second chances. “I envision skill hubs, technology centers, and women-run factories that generate income while providing livelihoods,” she says. “I want us to shape policy and advocacy at national and international levels to end child marriage and harmful practices for good.”
Sustainability is key to her approach. “We design programs to be community-owned and low-cost where possible,” she explains. “We also focus on leadership pipelines, training young women, including survivors, to take on leadership roles.”
Despite the challenges, Favour remains undeterred. “Society won’t stop talking,” she says. “No matter what you do, people will talk. So, I just work and do what I know is right.”
Motivation and Advice
Her motivation comes from the girls themselves. “Watching how small moments add up to big impact keeps me going,” she says. “Every meeting, every plan, every small win feeds into the larger vision of changing lives for the better.”
Favour encourages young people to take action. “If you want to start anything that will help others, you should do it now. Because no one is going to do it if you don’t start.”
