There should be increased funding for activities that involve the girl child. Her safety, wellbeing, and rights must be protected by all stakeholders,” she said passionately.”
— Adesewa Oyinloye
By Abdulrahman Aliagan,
In a country where challenges facing the girl child often take center stage in development conversations, one young woman is not waiting for the government alone to make a difference. Adesewa Oyinloye, the dynamic founder of The Sisi Empowerment Foundation — also known as HEY SISSY — is steadily building a movement that nurtures leadership, creativity, and confidence among school girls across Nigeria.
Last weekend, the Foundation marked another milestone as it empowered 60 students from three secondary schools in Ilorin, Kwara State — Chapel Secondary School, Oke Odo Community Secondary School, and Emmanuel Baptist College — through a hands-on leadership and skills acquisition programme tagged “Girls Conference 2025.”
The event, which coincided with the International Day of the Girl Child, featured intensive training sessions on how to make scrunchies, liquid soap, hair clips, hand fans, and other crafts — all designed to inspire self-reliance and entrepreneurial thinking among young girls.
For many of the students, it was a life-changing experience. Beyond learning new skills, they were taught leadership values, self-discovery, and the importance of education.
But this was more than just another school outreach — it marked the seventh empowerment programme of HEY SISSY within just one and a half years. From Abuja to Kwara, the Foundation has steadily built a reputation for reaching young girls where they are, instilling in them hope and purpose.
A Vision Rooted in Empowerment and Education
Speaking at the Ilorin event, Adesewa Oyinloye emphasized that the education and wellbeing of the girl child must remain a top priority for government, parents, and communities.
There should be increased funding for activities that involve the girl child. Her safety, wellbeing, and rights must be protected by all stakeholders,” she said passionately.”
“There should be increased funding for activities that involve the girl child. Her safety, wellbeing, and rights must be protected by all stakeholders,” she said passionately.”
Oyinloye, who also unveiled her latest book titled “In the Space Between” during the conference, used the opportunity to call for sustained advocacy and action that prioritize girls’ issues. The book, which explores themes of growth, identity, and resilience, was distributed to the participating students as part of the Foundation’s literacy promotion drive.
Track Record of Impact
HEY SISSY’s footprint extends beyond Kwara State. Earlier this year, the Foundation donated 100 textbooks in English, Mathematics, and Literature to students of Junior Secondary School, Wuse Zone 6, Abuja — part of its “Books for Brighter Futures” initiative.
The donation was aimed at bridging the learning gap for underprivileged students and encouraging schools to maintain reading-friendly environments.
In previous outreaches, HEY SISSY has conducted similar empowerment and mentorship programs in several communities, reaching hundreds of schoolgirls with leadership training, hygiene talks, and entrepreneurship bootcamps. The Foundation’s unique approach blends skill-building with moral and educational guidance, ensuring that participants leave each session with both practical and emotional empowerment.
Building Leaders for Tomorrow
Also speaking at the event, the Managing Consultant of Pete F2 Consult, Adenike Babajamu, commended HEY SISSY for its consistent commitment to girl-child development.
She described gender-based violence, child marriage, and educational inequality as pressing issues that require collective action.
The alarming rate of gender-based violence is unacceptable. We must continue to empower the girl child so she can find her voice and fulfill her potential,” – — Babajamu
“The alarming rate of gender-based violence is unacceptable. We must continue to empower the girl child so she can find her voice and fulfill her potential,” Babajamu said.
Addressing the students directly, she urged them to embrace self-discovery and strive for excellence, stressing that every girl has the potential to become a leader and a change agent in her community.
A Movement for Sustainable Change
For the growing team behind HEY SISSY, every outreach is a building block in a long-term mission: to empower, educate, and elevate the Nigerian girl child.
The Foundation’s blend of mentorship, education support, and vocational training reflects a sustainable model of empowerment — one that not only teaches girls how to dream, but also how to build their dreams.
From the smiles of young students in Ilorin to the excitement of book recipients in Abuja, the message of hope continues to spread.
As HEY SISSY marks its seventh outreach in just over a year, Adesewa Oyinloye’s vision shines even brighter — a vision where every Nigerian girl is seen, heard, and equipped to lead.
We are just getting started,” she says. “Our goal is to reach every corner of Nigeria — to ensure no girl is left behind.”
— Adesewa Oyinloye
“We are just getting started, our goal is to reach every corner of Nigeria — to ensure no girl is left behind.”
In every scrunchie sewn, in every soap bottle mixed, and in every book donated, HEY SISSY is quietly shaping a generation — one girl at a time.
