The Conversation I Never Had, Now I Give To Others

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I#GiveToGain

There are things many young girls go through silently, not because they want to, but because no one ever gave them the words to speak. I was one of those girls.

I grew up in Bundu Waterfront in Port Harcourt, where many young girls were exposed early to things they did not understand, with little or no guidance. There were moments I experienced growing up that left me confused, afraid, and unsure but I had no words for them, and no safe space to ask questions about my body, older men making advances at me, etc..

I learnt slowly, quietly, and sometimes the hard way.

Looking back now, I realise what I needed was not silence or punishment, I needed conversation.

That is why this work matters to me.

As part of our ongoing Sugar Daddy Awareness Initiative, our team visited Greencrest High School, Oke-Ayo, Magboro in Ogun State.

This visit was different.

From the moment we arrived, the school welcomed us with a partnership mindset. The principal and the female teachers were not just present, they were fully involved.

They wanted to be part of the conversation.

We engaged 68 girls from JSS1 to SS3 in a two-hour session that went beyond teaching, it became a shared experience.

At first, the girls were quiet.

But as the session continued, something changed. They began to write down their questions after our thrid talk about building confidence, learning how to express yourself and body safety.

They listened deeply some learnt how to communicate through writing and they started asking questions freely.

And for the first time, many of them felt comfortable enough to speak — not just with us, but with their own teachers.

One of the most powerful moments for me was not just the many questions the girls asked, but how the female teachers responded.

I intentionally shared questions with the principal and all the female teachers and invited them into the discussion.

They did not hold back. They shared, they explained, they guided and even asked me questions too.

The atmosphere became lighter. There was laughter, openness, and honesty.

A new level of trust was formed right there in the room.

The girls were no longer just students listening, they were part of a safe conversation.

Our customised decision cards also took on a deeper meaning in this school.

Each girl received one, cherished it but it did not end there. The teachers and even the principal requested for more copies — not just for the students, but for their own daughters and others who were not present.

It showed us that something simple had become something valuable.

Another unexpected outcome happened.

While our session with the girls was ongoing, the male teachers organized a separate session for the boys.

That moment stood out.

It showed that the conversation had extended beyond just the girls —it had sparked awareness across the entire school.

At the end of the session, we were given something we did not ask for. An open invitation to return to the school three times every session.

Not just for another talk, but to continue building on what had started, deeper conversations and guidance on personal growth, sexuality, confidence building and preparing these girls for their future through our Edulift arm.

As I left that school, I reflected on how different this experience was from my own growing up. What I did not have, these girls are beginning to have.

A safe space.

Guidance.

People willing to listen.

This brought me back to the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day: I #GiveToGain.

I gave these girls my time.

I gave them conversations I never had.

I gave them a space to ask questions without fear.

And in return, I gained something I cannot measure.

The confidence that these girls will make better decisions.

The hope that they will speak up when it matters.

The assurance that they will not have to figure everything out alone.

There is still so much to be done.

But moments like this remind me that change does not always start big.

Sometimes, it starts with one conversation, one safe space, one opportunity to be heard.

This is my way of giving.

And I am just getting started.

I#GiveToGain #InternationalWomensDay #GirlPower #GirlEducation