By all measures, Priscilla Usiobaifo is not just an advocate , she is a movement. From the rural communities of Edo State to the international corridors of gender policy, her voice has echoed powerfully against systems of inequality, cultural barriers, and gender-based violence. Her name is now synonymous with advocacy, courage, and impact, and the world is taking note.

In March 2025, the Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development presented Priscilla with the Empowerment Champion Award, honoring her enduring efforts in the education and empowerment of girls and women across the state. It was a recognition not only of years of grassroots service but also of the ripple effects her work continues to create across communities. Just months earlier, in December 2024, the Uneme-Nekhua National Development Association honored her with the Outstanding Community Service Award, acknowledging her unwavering commitment to lifting others through advocacy, support, and transformation.

But Priscilla’s influence stretches far beyond state borders.

In March 2024, she was recognized by the U.S. Mission Nigeria as a Woman of Courage, an award granted to women breaking down legal and cultural barriers, often at great personal risk. Her tireless push for reforms that challenge gender-based violence and support bodily autonomy has made her a national symbol of resilience and hope.

This work earned her a spot in Apolitical’s prestigious 100 Most Influential People in Gender Policy (2021). The same year, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in Nigeria honored her for her commitment to child protection and women’s rights, especially in hard-to-reach communities.

For over a decade, Priscilla has steadily built a legacy rooted in action. In 2020, she was branded an Orange Champion by the U.S. Embassy Nigeria, and also named a Beijing Eaglet by UN Women Nigeria, aligning her with the legacy of the Beijing Declaration, one of the most progressive blueprints for advancing women’s rights globally.

Her journey is one of consistent growth and learning. She is currently pursuing an MSc in Health, Law and Policy at the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo State, while holding a B.Sc. in Political Science and a National Diploma in Public Administration. Priscilla is also a fellow of the Action Coalition Learning Exchange (ACLE) funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Sexuality Leadership Development Fellowship (SLDF) of ARSRC, and an alumna of the CREA Sexuality, Gender and Rights Institute.

She further sharpened her leadership skills at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she earned a certificate in Strategic Leadership Principles and Tools for Family Planning and Reproductive Health.

Yet for all the accolades, what defines Priscilla Usiobaifo is not the titles or awards , it’s her ability to listen, to act, and to inspire. Whether she is championing the right of a young girl to stay in school, holding authorities accountable for justice, or challenging taboos that silence victims, she does so with a rare blend of passion and precision.

In every corner of the country where a woman finds her voice or a girl dreams beyond her circumstances, Priscilla’s presence can be felt, steady, fierce, and unrelenting. She is not just changing the narrative; she’s rewriting it entirely.

And she’s just getting started.

By Queen Phillips

Changing lives, challenging norms: the Priscilla Usiobaifo Story

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