When Ogenekaro was orphaned at a young age, she found love and stability in the home of her uncle. But the trust she placed in a family friend turned into a nightmare of sexual assault and blackmail. Today, with the help of the Women at Risk International Foundation, she is not only healing but thriving.
When Ogenekaro was orphaned at a young age, she found love and stability in the home of her uncle. But the trust she placed in a family friend turned into a nightmare of sexual assault and blackmail. Today, with the help of the Women at Risk International Foundation, she is not only healing but thriving.
Ogenekaro, now 20, lost both parents in her childhood and was raised by her late father’s elder brother and his wife. They treated her like their own daughter, and she grew up calling them “Dad” and “Mom.”
After she missed passing all her WAEC subjects on the first attempt, her guardians enrolled her in a secondary school to rewrite the examinations. The school’s director, identified in the story as Mr Ade, was a close family friend. Because of the trust her family placed in him, Ogenekaro never imagined he would become the person who would betray that trust most devastatingly.
Since she lived far from the school, she stayed with an aunt who lived closer. A few weeks after resuming, Mr Ade began giving her special attention. He eventually asked her to be in a relationship with him, promising that he would help her excel academically if she accepted. She rejected his advances.
Alongside her studies, Ogenekaro ran a small online clothing business. One day, Mr Ade ordered several shirts and asked her to deliver them to his residence. Believing it was a normal business transaction, she went to his house. After they spoke for a while, he began touching her inappropriately. She pleaded with him to stop and told him she was a virgin, but he ignored her pleas and sexually assaulted her.
Afterwards, he begged her not to tell anyone. He promised he would marry her someday and warned that her guardians would never believe her story. He also threatened to harm her if she disclosed the assault. Terrified and confused, she remained silent.
He repeatedly manipulated and pressured her into returning to his house. Over time, he coerced her into sending nude photographs and videos of herself. When she expressed fear or resisted his demands, he used those images to blackmail her. He threatened to send them to her guardians and falsely claim she had tried to seduce him if she refused to comply. After every assault, he reminded her never to tell anyone.
Although he constantly told her to delete their conversations, she secretly kept copies of their messages and protected them with a password without his knowledge. Those messages became the only evidence she had of the abuse, threats, and manipulation she endured.
As the months passed, Ogenekaro became consumed by fear, shame, and despair. She withdrew from everyone around her and struggled with overwhelming suicidal thoughts. Her aunt noticed the dramatic change in her behavior and repeatedly asked what was wrong, but Ogenekaro could not bring herself to speak.
Eventually, she reached her breaking point. She left behind a note asking her family not to look for her, left her phone at home, and went to stay with a childhood friend. While trying to understand what had happened, her aunt found her phone and discovered several password-protected conversations. Using the password Ogenekaro had written in her note, she accessed the messages and uncovered evidence of the abuse, including his threats and the explicit images he had coerced her into sending. Realizing where she was likely to be, her family found her safely at her friend’s house.
Her guardians were devastated that someone they had trusted so completely had taken advantage of her. They immediately reported the matter to the police. The police referred Ogenekaro to the WARIF Centre, where she received comprehensive medical care, psychosocial counselling, and other support services free of charge.
When she first arrived at WARIF, she felt broken, hopeless, and overwhelmed by trauma. Her counsellor listened to her without judgment and continually reminded her that what had happened was not her fault. Through counselling, she learned healthy coping strategies that helped her process her trauma, rebuild her confidence, and gradually regain her sense of self-worth.
She also began attending WARIF’s monthly Group Therapy Sessions, where she met other survivors. Sharing their experiences in a safe, supportive, and confidential environment reminded her that she was not alone. Together, they encouraged one another, found strength in their shared resilience, and celebrated every step of their healing journeys.
Although her court case is still ongoing, Ogenekaro remains hopeful that justice will be served. “Despite everything I experienced, I refused to let my story define my future,” she said. She rewrote her WAEC examinations at another centre, passed with excellent results, and gained admission to study Pharmacy at university. Today, she is in her second year and maintaining a first-class GPA.
Looking back, Ogenekaro knows her healing journey would not have been possible without the care, compassion, and unwavering support she received at WARIF. “The dedication and professionalism of the counsellors, medical team, staff, and management restored my hope when I had completely lost the will to live,” she said.
Today, she chooses to focus not only on what she survived, but on who she has become because she refused to give up. Her story is proof that, with the right support, survivors can reclaim their lives, pursue their dreams, and find the strength to keep moving forward.
The survivor’s real name has been changed for confidentiality.
WARIF, the Women at Risk International Foundation, is a non-profit organization established in response to the high incidence of rape, sexual violence, and human trafficking of young girls and women in Nigeria. The WARIF Centre offers immediate medical care, forensic medical examinations, psycho-social counselling, and welfare services, including shelter, legal aid, and vocational skills training, all free of charge. The centre operates full-time, six days a week, including public holidays.
Ogenekaro’s journey shows that even in the darkest moments, support and compassion can light the path to recovery. As she continues to await justice and pursue her pharmacy degree, she stands as a testament to the resilience of survivors and the vital role organisations like WARIF play in their healing.
