Her Strength in Every Story: A Recap of the 2025 Celebrating Womanhood Art Gala

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). 

Amplifying Voices, Driving Change: Reflections from the National Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Conference

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.