In Pigba Sama, a community in the Federal Capital Territory, many girls face challenges that affect their daily lives, especially from accessing inheritance to managing menstrual health. Among those determined to make a difference are Favour Usman, a 20-year-old student of Nasarawa state University, and Precious Josiah, and 18-year-old who has recently finished secondary school...
Jessica Nufi, a 14-year-old student in SS2 at Government Secondary School in Garki Area 10, Abuja never expected to be part of a programme that would change how she sees herself and the world around her. Jessica first heard about the Girl-Led Research (GLR) Project in May 2025, when the senior mistress of her school...
At just 16, Nazifi from stands out, not just for his skill in electronics repair, but for his empathy and courage to challenge harmful gender norms. Born into a large family of fifteen children, Nazifi grew up in a culture where boys were valued more than girls. In his words, “In my community, boys are...
Eighteen-year-old Aisha Yisha from Kudai community was once a shy girl who barely spoke to her parents. For years, her family’s way of communication was through a small chalkboard a symbol of silence and distance. Whenever Aisha had something to say, she wrote it down. Words spoken directly were rare, especially between her and her...
The sound of celebration once filled Aisha Aliyu’s home not because she had passed an exam or achieved something new, but because her family had found her a husband. For them, this was good news. For Aisha, it was simply expected. At sixteen, she was set to marry her cousin, just as many girls before...
From silence to leadership, Francisca’s journey is one of courage and change.She overcomes menstrual hygiene challenges and builds confidence through learning.Now she empowers other girls in her community. Seventeen-year-old Chukwuma Francisca knows what it feels like to miss school because of her period. Growing up in Kagini, a community in Abuja’s Federal Capital Territory, she and...
For generations, conversations about girls’ rights have been led for them, not by them. But across Jigawa State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a quiet revolution is happening. Young girls are no longer waiting for permission to speak—they are researching their own realities, standing up, and leading the charge for systemic change in their...
A COUNTRY WHERE WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE SAFE IS POSSIBLE: ACTIONAID NIGERIA CALLS FOR COLLABORATIVE ACTION TO TACKLE GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA As the world marks the 2024 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) under the theme “Towards 30 Years of the Beijing Declaration: Unite to End Violence Against Women,” ActionAid Nigeria is urging...
Programs for young people in sub-Saharan Africa have been directed largely toward unmarriedadolescents, neglecting the fact that a large proportion of adolescents – especially girls – are married in some settings. Early marriage is a common feature of girls’ adolescence in Northern Nigeria, yet few programs are in place to support this sizeable and vulnerable...
Zainab Suleiman is a 17-year-old girl who suffered teenage forced marriage and attempted rape by her 75-year-old so-called husband. She stayed in the “safe house” for three weeks; she received mentoring, psychological and trauma healing interventions. In the course of her stay, she acquired skills in bead making, cooking, and leather work. Zainab has regained...
