By Isaac Olufemi Ojo
“I never thought my life could have meaning until they came my way,” says Aka (not her real name). “I had completely lost hope and had no home to return to.”
Originally from Owerri, Aka’s journey to the streets began after she lost the nanny job that originally brought her to Lagos. Seeking a fresh start, she relocated to Ibadan, where she had no relatives and few options. Eventually, she found herself in the sex trade—a life she describes as “not proper.”
Today, Aka’s narrative has shifted from one of survival to one of dignity. She now works as an assistant at a tourism firm in Ibadan, earning a monthly salary though not a large one, but enough to take care of her basic needs. “It is a wage made from dignity, not shame and pain,” she says, her joy unmistakable.
The Solution: Rescuing and Restoring
The catalyst for Aka’s transformation is the Bloomingdale Center. Established in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, the center was born from an alliance between two organizations: the Connecting Heart Initiative and Pan-African Purpose-Driven Women (PAPDWI).
While Connecting Heart Initiative focuses on sustainable human rights for women and youth, PAPDWI brings a mission of positive social change through conferences and outreaches. Together, they created a safe space designed to rescue, restore, empower, and reintegrate victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation.
The center uses a faith-based approach, reaching out to women in the “red spots” of the Ibadan metropolis—strategic locations like motels, hotels, and brothels. According to research by the Plus One Initiative, Ibadan serves as a significant hub for the sex trade in Southwest Nigeria, making the center’s location both strategic and necessary.
From the Streets to the Kitchen
Aka is not the only success story. Bubu (not her real name), a mother of two, was part of the center’s first rehabilitation cohort. Economic hardship and family struggles had led her down a destructive path before she encountered the NGO’s outreach team.
“I am better for it now. The shame is gone,” Bubu shares. Today, she works as a professional cook, skilled in preparing a variety of exotic and African meals. “I go to work every day. I earn between 50,000and 85, 000 Naiar monthlydepending on the workload, My children are doing well, and I have been able to pay for their education. I can tell anyone what I’m doing now with no shame.”
A Divine Vision for Change
On May 14, 2025, the Bloomingdame Center officially commissioned its safe house in the serene, government-reserved area of Aare, Old Bodija.
Abimbola Ukutiyang, the Executive Director of Connecting Hearts Initiative, describes the mission as “divine.” She began her work over a decade ago after noticing the surge of young women lining the streets near her office.
“I took the bold step to go to the brothels at Queens Cinema and invited the ladies to a conference. They came in their numbers,” Ukutiyang recalls. “Many gave their lives to Christ, but I realized that if there was no physical, tangible, and sustainable help, they would go back. That was how the vision started.”
The Six-Month Roadmap
Mrs. Oluwatunyo Gedenbe, founder of PAPDWI, explains that the center provides a comprehensive six-month residential program. During this time, the women receive:
• Safe Housing: A secure environment away from exploitation.
• Skills Acquisition: Training in a vocational area of their choice.
• Total Support: Provision of food, toiletries, and essentials so they can focus on their growth.
• Startup Tools: Equipment provided upon graduation to help them launch their own enterprises.
To date, the center has reached over 200 women through evangelical and medical outreaches. While 24 women have completed the full training and empowerment program across two cohorts, the organizers admit that funding remains a major hurdle to scaling their impact.
The Road Ahead: Challenges and Scale
Despite these successes, the path to reintegration is fraught with challenges. Mrs. Gedenbe notes that many graduates eventually change their contact information to avoid the stigma and “labeling” associated with their past.
Furthermore, the sheer scale of the problem in Ibadan is daunting. Mrs. Ukutiyang describes the city as a “basket” where girls from across the region converge for the sex trade. She believes the solution requires more than just NGO intervention.
“We need the government to replicate these safe houses across every local government in the state,” Ukutiyang says. She also emphasizes the need for a fundamental shift in societal mindsets. “We need systems where the minds of these people can be renewed constantly, so they know they are not meant for this life.”
With the commissioning of the new safe house, the Bloomingdame Center continues to expand its reach, offering medical counseling and a “ready escape” for those looking to trade a life of pain for a future of dignity.
