The origin of You Should Be Heard can be traced back to some years back when I had a near-rape experience in undergraduate school. This troubled me for my first two years in school as I went through several bouts of post-traumatic episodes.

This experience gave me an insight into what victims of rape and sexual abuse go through and amidst all that, a seed was planted in my heart to do more to reduce the rate at which this happens.

Since 2016/2017, I have nurtured this idea while looking forward to building it into something beyond a mere thought. Although I got busy with my thesis at some point, I was able to pick up the momentum in December 2019 to further nurture it and help build a saner society. The release of Sex for Grades – a BBC documentary about sexual harassment at universities in Nigeria and Ghana, further fueled my drive to launch You Should Be Heard and I haven’t looked back ever since.

I desire that more people understand their rights and come together to promote an agenda that helps create a safe place for victims and the vulnerable. And to also ensure that perpetrators are dealt with accordingly, as long as it is within our power.

– OBOH Mary Aigbiremo
Founder, YSBH