‘From grappling and close-quarter combat to the uncomfortable yet necessary discussions around acquaintance sexual assault, manipulation tactics, and emotional boundary-setting, every session peeled back layers of our understanding of what it means to be truly safe, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. We were taught that “Self-defence is not show defence” it’s a life skill to be deployed when necessary, not a tool for intimidation or display.”

In the month of April, I participated in a program that would become one of the most memorable highlights of my year. I got to participate in the program as a representative of my boss and the Assistant Editor, who had travelled to be with his family at that time. As someone who thrives on meaningful activity, I jumped at the opportunity with no second thoughts.

At first, I assumed it would be the typical wellness seminar: a few talks, some mindfulness exercises, and a free lunch, perhaps. But what I walked into was something far deeper, something I didn’t realise I needed until I experienced it.

The training turned out to be a one-week Basic Security and Self-Defence Training titled CRISIS RESPONSE FOR PERSONAL PROTECTION hosted by Sheroes Rising for Development Initiative. It was, in every sense of the word, transformative.

But this wasn’t just about throwing punches or learning how to escape wrist grabs. It was about understanding why self-defence is not a performance, but a principle rooted in self-value. By the second day, after some intense drills in both theoretical and practical self-defence, I was reaching for an electrolyte drink because my legs had not had this kind of workout in a long while.

In a society where vital life skills like self-defense are rarely prioritized, especially within professional settings, Sheroes Rising is boldly filling a gap that many institutions and even government agencies continue to overlook. The training was also inclusive; it brought together both male and female employees for a transformative learning experience. As the founder rightly noted, even men often lack the basic tools of emotional maturity, boundary recognition, and defence preparedness in crisis situations.  The Crisis Response for Personal Protection Training was not about gender exclusivity, but more about human empowerment and about equipping the youth with the tools and skills needed for survival, leadership, and growth.

Sheroes Rising for Development Initiative is a bold and transformative social enterprise designed to drive advocacy for women’s empowerment through storytelling, advancing gender narratives, fostering inclusive development and promoting equality for women and girls across all communities.

The founder of Sheroes Rising, during an interview, perfectly summed up the essence of the initiative when she emphasised the importance of “fertilising gender narratives” a phrase that speaks to the organisation’s mission of bridging the gap between men and women through advocacy, empowerment, and education.

At the heart of Sheroes Rising is the belief that women cannot be empowered in isolation, and that gender equality can only be achieved with the allyship of men.  Hence, we must catalyse inclusive, gendered spaces, platforms and conversations if we want a society where both men and women thrive.

This training is only the first cohort, the pioneer batch, and already it’s evident: Sheroes Rising is on to something big.

It’s rare to find programs that address physical safety, mental awareness, and emotional intelligence all at once. Rarer still is the initiative doing this outside the walls of corporations or governments, powered instead by private passion and partnerships like that of Sheroes Rising for Development Initiative and the Vital Voices Global Fellowship.

One line that stood out for me, and has stayed with me ever since:  “Safety and self-defence starts with self-value.” That’s not just a mantra, it’s a worldview shift.

It’s a call to everyone, especially young Nigerians like myself, to stop viewing safety as a reactive response and start seeing it as a proactive lifestyle rooted in self-worth.

To Sheroes Rising, I say this: thank you for the knowledge, the bruises, the laughter, and the growth. Thank you for giving young people the space to rediscover their strength. And most importantly, thank you for showing us that real power is silent, prepared, and purposeful.

To other participants at the training. What you learn, share it. What you know, teach it. Because real empowerment doesn’t end with you.

Al-Sayyidul Arafat writes from Abuja Nigeria.