A conversation on the grim realities faced by child brides in some cultures turned into a life mission for 17-year-old Oluwaseyi Osarosa Adodo. Inspired to act after learning about young girls suffering from obstetric fistula—a childbirth injury causing severe health and social issues—Adodo founded the Osarosa Intervention Foundation, dedicated to supporting affected women in Nigeria. Since its inception last year, the organization has provided life-changing surgeries, counseling, and reintegration support, all aimed at restoring dignity to victims of these childbirth-related injuries.
It all started when Adodo, a high school honor roll student, learned about the plight of child brides who experience obstetric fistula, a painful condition often resulting from obstructed labor due to limited access to quality maternal healthcare. Without adequate treatment, many of these women and girls live with constant health challenges, often facing social isolation due to stigma. In response, Adodo founded her organization at just 16, naming it Osarosa, after her middle name, as a tribute to her Nigerian heritage and her commitment to helping her community.
Based in Houston, Adodo’s foundation operates in both Nigeria and the United States, where it is registered as a non-profit. The Osarosa Intervention Foundation partners with a local non-governmental organization (NGO) in Kano, Nigeria, that has established relationships within the community. This partnership helps identify women and girls in need of medical intervention, as well as counseling and small business support to help them reintegrate into society.
Since launching, the foundation has funded surgeries and support for 14 women and girls aged 16 to 40, helping them regain their health and self-esteem. “It’s humbling to see how much we’ve accomplished in such a short time,” Adodo said in an interview with BlackStars. “I’m grateful to have support from my family and our partners in Nigeria who make this possible.”
Balancing academics with her passion for advocacy, Adodo remains an engaged student at Westbury Christian School in Houston. A Student Council vice president, HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) chapter president, and member of multiple extracurricular groups, Adodo has a packed schedule but remains committed to her foundation’s work.
While her parents handle the foundation’s day-to-day operations, Adodo still takes an active role in major decisions. She selects the age range of girls to receive aid and organizes gifts and events for the beneficiaries. Time management is one of her biggest challenges, she admits, as she balances school, the foundation, and the demands of teenage life.
Looking ahead, Adodo plans to pursue a career in medicine, with her sights set on Harvard University. Her ultimate vision for the foundation is to establish a hospital and rehabilitation center in Nigeria to provide free surgeries, counseling, and reintegration programs for obstetric fistula patients. The goal is not only to offer medical treatment but to empower women economically and socially as they rebuild their lives.
Her journey has already made a lasting impact on people like Ms. Khadija, a 16-year-old girl who was one of the first patients treated by the foundation. After receiving surgery and small-business start-up capital from Osarosa, Khadija has been able to reintegrate into her community and now runs her own business. “Knowing that I can help someone else heal and find a future is incredibly rewarding,” Adodo said.
Adodo’s achievements have garnered admiration from her school and community, as well as her family. Her efforts were recently recognized in a feature on her school’s website, and she has been invited to speak at conferences like Texas State University’s maternal health stakeholders meeting, where she addressed strategies for improving maternal health outcomes.
Adodo credits her success to her support network and her faith. “It’s not easy, but I know that every girl we help is a life restored,” she said. As she continues her education and expands her foundation’s reach, Adodo’s commitment to health and human rights promises a brighter future for those whose voices often go unheard.
