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By Chiamaka Mbah
Shades of Us hosted its July Forum on Friday, July 25, 2025, to commemorate World Refugee Day, traditionally observed on June 20. We explored “Stories of Strength: African Solidarity and the Refugee Experience.” It was a conversation that reminded us that solidarity is not just about standing with refugees on designated international days, but about how we live every day.
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| The Little Big Fund Facilitators and Fellows’ Power Pose. From Left to Right: Andrea, Vanessa, Kuol, Abhinav, Aisha, Erioluwa, Andrea, Christine, Ramatu, Monal |
It has been a little over a year since I first learned about the Little Big Fund Fellowship for non-profit and social impact founders. Since then, I became a fellow, had incredible learning sessions, visited Kenya for the first time, and received a microgrant for the Shades of Us Mobile Cinema project. Phewww! What a year it has been!
You know I am a long-winded writer. So… let us get into it!
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Shades of Us and Adeyemi Orphanage Relief (ADORE) Celebrate the Visit to Destined Children Orphanage Home with the Children and Staff |
By Cynthia Umeh and Simbiat Amzat
There is a simple truth often overlooked: good hygiene is one of the most powerful tools we can give a child. It is not just about cleanliness; it is about dignity, confidence, and the foundation for a healthy future. From learning how to properly wash their hands to understanding the significance of menstrual hygiene, these habits become building blocks for self-esteem and independence.
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| From Left to Right: Beverly Naya, Lupita Nyong'o, Taraji P. Henson, and Mo'Nique. Image Credit: Daily Post Nigeria, Essence, US Weekly, and BellaNaija |
Black Women, the Film Industry, and the Art of Being Overlooked
By Atinuke Adeosun
Let us be real: everyone loves a good underdog story. But Hollywood? Hollywood practically built its brand on it. That whole “started from the bottom, now we are here” vibe is the industry’s favorite genre. Struggle, rise, triumph, and repeat.
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| Photo by jannet eldhose on Unsplash |
By Cynthia Umeh
In many parts of Africa, heavy rainfall is no longer seen as a blessing. Instead, it brings destruction, disease, and death. As climate change continues to affect weather patterns, flooding has become more frequent and more dangerous. One of the most serious results of this flooding is the spread of cholera.
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| Photo by Madalena Veloso on Unsplash |
By Chiamaka Mbah
Zainab sat quietly under the neem tree near her family’s hut. Her arms were thin, her belly slightly swollen, and her eyes carried a tired glow no child should bear. At three years old, she weighed what an average one-year-old should. Her mother, Mariam, tried to feed her from the bowl of watery porridge they shared, but she knew it was not enough. It never was.
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| Photo by Emma Ou on Unsplash |
By Ramatu Ada Ochekliye
Shiana stirred her pot of stew as it simmered on the cooker. The stew wasn't as red as she loved it, but this would have to do. Her spoon flitted around the chunks of meat, noting the spaces where she used to have more. She took the spoon out, hit it on the edge of the pot to get most of the stew back in, then she carefully placed what was left in the middle of her palm. She raised her palm to her mouth and licked the stew off.
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| Panel Session at the Double Minority Documentary Premiere in Abuja on July 14, 2025 |
By Ramatu Ada Ochekliye
A few days ago, I posted a new video about the worth of women, particularly in politics, leadership, and governance. It was the first vlog I had posted in a long while. I remember waking up one morning, more enraged than usual by the state of politics and governance in Nigeria, especially the way it continues to affect women.
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| Shades of Us at the 2025 Charity Half Marathon Hosted by Run Club Abuja (with Support from Norrenberger) on July 12, 2025 |
By Cynthia Umeh
Guess what I did on July 12, 2025? I ran a Marathon!
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| Participants at the Shades of Us Script Development and Storytelling Workshop in Abuja |
“So… why storytelling?”
I asked one of the participants during a short break while the projector warmed up. She gave a small laugh, looked down at her notebook, and said, “Because stories make people feel. And when people feel, they begin to care. That is where change starts.”
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| Panel discussion on ‘Advancing Youth-Friendly SRHR Service Delivery in Nigeria,’ at the SRHR Policy Dialogue Hosted by Nigeria Health Watch |
By Cynthia Umeh
Shades of Us participated in the SRHR Policy Dialogue organized by Nigeria Health Watch and supported by Organon. The event, titled “Closing Reproductive Health Impact Gaps – Strategic Approaches for Equity and Access,” brought together key voices in the health and development space to examine the growing challenges in delivering sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services. With global funding on the decline, the conversation highlighted the pressing need for creative, homegrown strategies to ensure equitable and sustainable access to SRHR for all.
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Panel discussion on ‘Addressing Policy Implementation and Funding Gaps for SRHR Impact’ at the SRHR Policy Dialogue Hosted by Nigeria Health Watch |
By Yecenu Sasetu
Imagine this. There is a girl. We will call her Anna.
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Speakers of Panel I, who Discussed Advancing Youth-Friendly SRHR Service Delivery in Nigeria |
By Ramatu Ada Ochekliye
Shades of Us attended the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Policy Dialogue hosted by Nigeria Health Watch with support from Organon on July 3, 2025. The theme, Closing Reproductive Health Impact Gaps – Strategic Approaches for Equity and Access, was an important conversation focused on the gaps in SRHR information and service delivery with global funding cuts and the need for more innovative approaches for sustainability.
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| Ramatu (Shades of Us) and Bernard (EVA Nigeria) Discussing “Rethinking Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for the Young Nigerian.” on Montage Radio |
On July 5, 2025, Shades of Us and Education as a Vaccine (EVA Nigeria) joined the Health 360 program on Montage Radio, 99.7 FM, Abuja to discuss “Rethinking Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for the Young Nigerian.” This conversation was inspired by the ongoing SRHR Policy Dialogue hosted by Nigeria Health Watch (with support from Organon) on July 3, 2025.
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| Image by Shades of Us |
By Yecenu Sasetu
Poverty became a harsh reality for me about ten years ago when I met a pregnant woman who had never attended antenatal care because she couldn’t afford the N100 registration fee. She was eight months pregnant but had never been examined by a doctor or nurse, simply because she couldn’t pay to register at the Primary Health Center.
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| Photo by Sunday Abegunde on Unsplash |
By Yecenu Sasetu
I tried my hand at gambling once, even though I grew up with the words “gambling is a sin” ringing in my ears. If you are a Christian, you don’t go near gambling, but I did. My friend convinced me to, and like many young Nigerians today, I wanted to hit and hit fast.
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| Festival of Change Attendee at the Shades of Us Booth Learning about our Mobile Cinema Project |
On June 12, 2025, Shades of Us participated in the Festival of Change 2025, held at the Tayo Aderinokun Auditorium, University of Lagos. This year's festival, themed "CONNECT: Bridging Education and Technology at All Levels," brought together educators, technologists, policymakers, and innovators to explore the intersection of education and technology.
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| Kirk Franklin at the 2025 BET Awards. Image Credit: People |
By Cynthia Umeh
The 2025 Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards, which happened on June 9, wasn’t just another awards night. It was a statement. It was a moment. It was Black excellence on full display. The 25th BET Awards took over the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles with a celebration of music, film, sports, and culture, unapologetically Black, deeply inspiring, and wildly entertaining.
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| Photo by Allef Vinicius on Unsplash |
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| Ojonugwa Yahaya and Other Teachers at the Junior Secondary School Sheda, Kwali. Image Credit: Ojonugwa Yahaya |
When I look back at my time serving as a class teacher in Junior Secondary School Sheda, Kwali — under the N-Teach category of the N-Power scheme — I do so with deep gratitude. That chapter wasn’t just about employment; it was a season of growth, bonding, and purposeful impact.
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Students in a Junior Secondary School in Abuja, Nigeria. Image Credit: Ojonugwa Yahaya |
Within school walls and beyond, we must rise to the responsibility of shaping a future we won’t have to apologize for.
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| Photo by Kaboompics.com on Pexels |
By Adetayo Adetokun
In today’s digital age, managing menstrual health has become more convenient with the advent of FemTech—technology designed to address women’s health issues. From tracking cycles to predicting ovulation, these applications offer personalized insights. However, as we commemorate Menstrual Hygiene Day annually on May 28, it is crucial to examine the privacy implications of sharing intimate health data with these platforms.
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| Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels |
By Adetayo Adetokun
I was sixteen when my father told me he could not have another child.
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| Photo by Edmond Dantès on Pexels |
By Glory Ayobami Ogunbodede
They were five minds, five flames — each burning bright in their corner of Jos. But separate fires only warm so much. What if they could set the whole city alight?
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| Photo by Masum Rahimi on Unsplash |
By Simbiat Amzat
We have immunization on our minds at Shades of Us, with special focus on The Big Catch-Up.
So, what is The Big Catch-Up?
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| Photo by Tope A. Asokere on Pexels |
By Simbiat Amzat
Women are the true architects of society. Every International Women’s Day serves as a powerful reminder of the need to empower women, move beyond stereotypes, and take concrete steps toward building a more equitable world.
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| Panel Session at the 2025 Celebrating Womanhood Art Gala hosted by Nigeria Health Watch (NHW) |
By Cynthia Umeh and Simbiat Amzat
At Shades of Us, we believe that when women thrive, societies prosper. We also know that art is a way to tell stories about the health and well-being of women and girls in a way that provides solutions for societies’ norms that negatively affect women and girls. So what happens when health meets art? For a third year, this has meant the Celebrating Womanhood Art Gala hosted by Nigeria Health Watch (NHW) in collaboration with the National Gallery of Art (NGA) and the Female Artists Association of Nigeria (FEAAN).
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| Group Photo of Participants at the Inaugural National Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Conference hosted by Stand With A Girl (SWAG) Initiative |
By Cynthia Umeh
Shades of Us attended the inaugural National Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Conference hosted by Stand With A Girl (SWAG) Initiative in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), HIVOS, Education as a Vaccine (EVA), and other partners on April 12, 2025. This is a pivotal gathering dedicated to advancing the rights and well-being of internally displaced persons (IDPs), with a special focus on women and girls. We joined this event to amplify the lived experiences of the displaced, spotlighting community-led solutions, and advocating for sustainable action that centers on dignity, empowerment, and equity.
