Shina Abubakar, Osogbo

In commemoration of the 2025 International Women’s Day, a Non-Governmental Organisation, Blossom Girls Outreach Foundation, BGOF, reached out to 40 sex workers in two brothels.

The initiative, BGOF, founder, Doreen Omosele, disclosed that it was targeted to foster inclusion, and empower these ladies with knowledge and resources to break free from the cycle of prostitution.

The event which took place at two different brothels in Ibadan, Oyo State, sponsored by Oga Printa, had health talk sessions, icebreaker session which allowed the sex workers to familiriase with members of the NGO.

Addressing the girls, Omosele charged the ladies to embrace the foundation vision by joining its rehabilitation programme, which helps ladies break away from prostitution.

“At BGOF, we help ladies transit out of prostitution by offering education, skills training, housing, and support to start a new life. Through this programme we have helped several sex workers break out from their shackles.

“A good example is the “Dubai Girl”, a lady who had graduated from the programme and now takes platforms sharing her story and advocating for others to break free from prostitution”, she said.

The health talk which was led by Nurse Janet Adigun of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, assisted by Sylvia Aputazie, a final-year medical student, focused on preventive measures such as the use of male and female condoms to prevent sexually transmitted infections, STIs and HIV, the importance of routine medical check-ups, and family planning methods.

The session also covered the importance of maintaining good hygiene, eating a balanced diet, and reducing the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and hard drugs, as well as effect of the use of unprofessional means of pregnancy termination.

The ladies were also linked with the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan where they could access free HIV screening, health counselling, and preventive healthcare services.