Adek Bassey – Women Deliver
2020

Adek Bassey

  • Age: 29
  •    |   She/her/hers

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We, young people, strongly believe that if you include us in identifying and solving problems that affect us, we can assure you of a sustainable result and solution. The power of inclusion is vital for a sustainable solution. Include the population your projects intend to reach out to, so they can take ownership in achieving the results and changes you desire.

- Adek Bassey

Bio

Adek Bassey was born and raised in Nigeria. She received a bachelor’s degree in public health from the University of Calabar in 2017. Adek is a Today for Tomorrow Foundation board member, UNFPA and EVA Youth Advocate, Global Shapers volunteer, Child Protection Focal Person for Initiative for People Good Health, and Emergency Operations Committee and U-REPORT volunteer.

What ignited your pursuit for gender equality?

One of the strongest reasons I am into gender equality programs is to prove my culture wrong for it is believed that a female child, especially the firstborn in a family, is not relevant or important or counted as the head of the family compared to a male child. This is my ignition to be engaged and involved in gender equality programs to be a model to other females and advocate for equal opportunity in education, positions, and all benefits given to a male child.

Please share your biggest wins as an advocate for gender equality.

I identified an issue around female street youth in my community where they engage n unprotected sexual intercourse, get unwanted pregnancies and STIs, and give birth to their babies on the street. I mobilized my team and started reaching out to the girls to provide basic, accurate information and some essential items, and together they advocated to other females who are doctors, professors, and great stakeholders in their community and members of a coalition group. The advocacy led to the youth having access to a hospital where they receive health services including child delivery. Today, they no longer give birth on the street.

Outside of your gender equality advocacy work, what do you enjoy doing?

Interacting with friends, watching movies, and taking pictures.

Languages Spoken:

  • English
  • Hausa
  • Efik

Speaks On:

  • GBV
  • storytelling
  • meaningful youth engagement

Past Awards, Certifications, or Fellowships:

  • Advocacy, Gender-Based Violence Certification by Girls Power Initiative, UNFPA, UNICEF, and EVA
  • Psycho-Social Officer Certification by Save the Children International
  • Social Norms Change Agent to End Violence Against Children Certification by UNICEF
  • Certification on HIV/AIDs Peer Educator by SIDAHs
  • SDG Advocacy Lead Certification by SDG Yola
  • Social Media Advocate Certification by EVA, UNFPA, and Youth HUB Africa

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