The Hidden Burden of Depression and Anxiety Among Young People

Photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash

By Florence Shadrack 

“You are too young to be depressed.”

A Rehab Reset: Why Checking In Matters More Than We Think

Photo by Random Institute on Unsplash

by Victor Jacob

I never really enjoyed watching podcasts on YouTube. For a long time, they simply were not the kind of content I found myself drawn to. But over the past few months, that has changed. I have come to appreciate how educational they can be, and I often find myself reflecting on the conversations long after the episodes have ended. Recently, I came across a few podcast episodes that explored addiction, rehabilitation, and recovery. The conversations stayed with me long after they ended and inspired the reflections I am sharing in this blog.

Taking Period Shame Off the Timetable

A Student of Government Secondary School, Kuje, FCT, Wears the Cap with A Simple Message: No Shame in Flow!

By Cynthia Umeh

What is the first thing most students do when someone mentions menstruation in a crowded school hall?

Internships Are Becoming the Real Classroom for Young Africans

Shades of Us Builds the Capacity of its Interns on Mobile Photography and Videography

By Florence Shadrack 

On 10 July 2026, Take the Lead, a programme by West Africa Democracy Radio (WADR), brought together young professionals, researchers, and development practitioners to discuss a question that resonates with millions of young Africans: What truly prepares graduates for the world of work?

Why Internships Matter in Preparing Young People for the Future of Work

Shades of Us Joined WADR for its Conversation on Internships

By Victor Jacob 

For many university students, graduation represents the beginning of a new chapter filled with hope, ambition, and the desire to build a successful career. We spend years attending lectures, completing assignments, writing examinations, and working towards earning a degree that we believe will open doors to professional opportunities. However, one question continues to challenge many young people: Is a university qualification alone enough to succeed in today's competitive job market?

Understanding Working Poverty

Photo by Oyemike Princewill on Unsplash

By Florence Shadrack 

The salary alert came in at 5:43 a.m.

The Missing Link in Modern Education

Photo by Lisa Marie Theck on Unsplash

By Kashibu Victory

Imagine sitting in a classroom where learning goes beyond textbooks. Instead of just reading about climate change, you watch a short film, discuss it with your classmates, and then create a campaign to raise awareness in your community.

Giving Voice Through Digital Storytelling

Photo by Kojo Kwarteng on Unsplash

By Kashibu Victory

In many parts of the world, access to quality education remains unequal. Learners from underserved communities often face systemic barriers that limit their participation and expression within formal education systems.

Conversations for an All-Inclusive Society

Photo by Random Institute on Unsplash

 By Victor Jacob 

The word ‘Society’, coined from the Latin word ‘societas’, means a friendly association, fellowship, or alliance. However, one may question whether we truly live according to this meaning in the society we experience today.

Climate Change, Reproductive Choices, and the Voices We Must Listen To

Woman Tending to Her Farm. Credit: MSI Reproductive Choices

By Florence Shadrack

On 25 June 2026, I represented Shades of Us at a webinar titled Women's Voices on Climate Resilience and Reproductive Choices, hosted by Anissa Portalima, Global Director of the Evidence and Impact Team at MSI Reproductive Choices. The webinar marked the launch of a new multi-country qualitative study conducted by MSI Reproductive Choices, YLabs, and their partners to better understand how climate change is affecting women's sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

My Reflections on the NGO/CSW Meeting on Women's Access to Justice

 
By Florence Shadrack

Before attending the Non-Governmental Organization Committee on the Status of Women (NGO CSW/NY) June Monthly Meeting on Women's Access to Justice: Youth Leaders in Action, I viewed access to justice mainly through the lens of laws and policies. However, as I listened to the speakers share their experiences and perspectives, I realized that justice goes far beyond legal systems.

A Massive Shortage of Midwives is Costing the World 4.3 Million Lives a Year

A Rwandan midwife explaining to a postpartum woman how to better position her baby for breastfeeding. Credit: Photographed by Jacques Nkinzingabo for the International Confederation of Midwives.

By The International Confederation of Midwives.

A new peer-reviewed study says that midwifery-led care is not a policy option, but instead an evidence-based requirement to prevent millions of unnecessary deaths. This week in Lisbon, thousands of midwives will gather to demand action. 

Break the Silence About Menstruation

Group Photo of Tabitha Empowerment Centre (TEC), Shades of Us, Shield Them, SuS Pads, Women Community in Africa, Tabitha Empowerment Centre Girls Vanguards, and Teachers and Students of LEA Kpeyegyi, Abuja

By Florence Shadrack and Ramatu Ada Ochekliye

On June 2, 2026, we partnered with Tabitha Empowerment Centre (TEC), Shield Them, SuS Pads, Women Community in Africa, and Tabitha Empowerment Centre Girls Vanguards to commemorate World Menstrual Hygiene Day at the Local Education Authority (LEA) School in Kpeyegyi, Abuja. This was supported by the Office of the Pioneer Mandate Secretary for Women and Children, FCT Women Affairs Secretariat (FCT WAS). 

The Work That Doesn’t Count

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

By Florence Shadrack

I woke up before the first light touched the windows.

For a moment, I didn’t move.

I just listened.

Pipes Above, Thirst Below

Photo by Jouni Rajala on Unsplash

by Kashibu Victory

The first thing you notice in Ajegunle Extension is not the noise, but the thirst.

Silence Has Cost Us Enough

Photo by Emmanuel Yeboah Okine on Unsplash

By Atinuke Adeosun

Before we get into it, we want to invite you to the Jos Mental Health Summit 2026. 

Theme: Building Resilience in the Face of Trauma

Date: May 26, 2026

Time: 9:00 AM

Register here: www.aibeth.org

Women, Innovation, Intellectual Property, and Economic Power in Nigeria

Group Photo from the WIPO IP and Women Business Summit at the United Nations House, Abuja.

by Ramatu Ada Ochekliye

On March 17, 2026, I attended the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Intellectual Property and Women Business Summit at the United Nations House, Abuja.

Even Good Intentions Can Cause Harm

Photo by Zachary Keimig on Unsplash

By Ramatu Ada Ochekliye

I made a post on the Shades of Us page about Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and Facebook flagged it as “Child Sexual Exploitation,” placing a restriction on my profile.

Even after an appeal, the decision stood.

The Quiet Growth of Nasara Tanko

Nasara Tanko Looks to the World with Hope

By Ojonugwa Yahaya

A reflection on childhood, displacement, and the quiet resilience of becoming.

Building Safer Digital Spaces: Tech-Facilitated GBV in the Age of AI

By Simbiat Amzat

The launch of the #16daysofActivism by Leading Ladies Africa on November 28, 2025, in partnership with TechHer NG, brought together women who live and breathe the fight for digital safety. I didn’t expect the conversation to hit me as deeply as it did, but from the moment the session began, I felt myself leaning in. I joined the webinar thinking I already understood tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), but by the end, I realised how much I had overlooked, how much I had normalised, and how much we still needed to confront.

How Corruption Affects Development Across Africa

Photo by James Wiseman on Unsplash

By Simbiat Amzat​

Corruption continues to undermine development across many African countries, stalling progress and limiting opportunities for millions of people. Despite the continent’s vast human and natural resources, the mismanagement and diversion of public funds weaken institutions, disrupt public services, and erode trust in governance. To understand how corruption affects development, we must reflect on the ways it shapes everyday life, deepens inequality, and prevents communities from reaching their full potential.

Unbent and Unbroken

From Top Left to Bottom Right: Cobhams Asuquo, Lois Auta, Eddie Ndopu, Farida Bedwei, and Samkelo Radebe. (Image Credit: Lagos Jump Radio, World Economic Forum, United Nations Foundation, Empower Africa, Alchetron)

Five African Stories of Power, Grit, and Defiant Possibility

By Atinuke Adeosun

There is a saying I have heard thrown around when life felt unfair: “Strength is not always loud; sometimes it whispers.”

The Invisible Violence of Algorithms

Ramatu Ada Ochekliye

 By Ramatu Ada Ochekliye

I recently sat down with Imoh from West Africa Democracy Radio (WADR) in Dakar to discuss an issue that is shaping the daily realities of women online: the invisible violence of algorithms. 

How Pop Culture Shapes Gender Norms

Ramatu Ada Ochekliye, Shades of Us Founder, with Ugonna and Titi on Kiss FM 99.9 Abuja 

By Ramatu Ada Ochekliye

On December 3 and 5, 2025, I joined Ugonna on Kiss FM 99.9 Abuja on behalf of Shades of Us to discuss How Pop Culture Shapes Gender Norms. The conversations were part of our continued commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, and they offered me the opportunity to expand on the stories, jokes, lyrics, and images we consume every day.

Fertility and Blame Culture in Nigeria

Ramatu Ada Ochekliye at Montage Radio 99.7 FM to Discuss Fertility and Blame Culture in Nigeria

By Ramatu Ada Ochekliye

Last week, I joined Gesiere on Montage Radio 99.7 FM in Abuja to discuss a topic that touches the lives of countless Nigerian (and dare I say, African) women: fertility, blame, and the ways patriarchy shapes our understanding of reproductive health. Our conversation was part of the 16 Days of Activism, a global campaign that, this year, places a spotlight on ending digital violence against women and girls.