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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.
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| Image by PNW Production on Pexels |
Growing up in Kano, Aisha always knew the world was not fair. She watched her mother, a skilled tailor, sew intricate designs late into the night, only to earn barely enough to feed the family. Yet men with half her talent made more money.
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| Image by UOL |
Hollywood has always been a storyteller. But it doesn’t just tell any stories—it tells stories that shape how we see the world. It decides who gets to be a hero, who is worthy of love, who is feared, who is pitied, and who is ignored.
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| Image by Samuel Adeleke on Pexels |
So you are 11…
You are 11, and the world still belongs to you.
By Simbiat Amzat
The Beijing+30 review presents a pivotal moment to evaluate the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a groundbreaking framework for women's empowerment adopted in 1995.
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| Design by UNESCO |
Shades of Us participated virtually as the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) celebrated the 10th anniversary of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The event was marked by the launch of an impactful campaign, “Imagine a World with More Women in Science,” which seeks to advance gender equality in the sciences and encourage more girls and women to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This milestone initiative underscores the importance of fostering inclusivity and representation in these critical fields.
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| Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko |
Luck shone on Olufunke when she got an employment offer from a top construction company in Abuja right after completing her service year. She was determined to make a lasting impression and stay out of any trouble that came her way.
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| Photo by Şeyhmus Kino |
"Education is the foundation upon which we build our future." Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Education is the foundation of any prosperous nation. It drives economic growth, fosters social development, and ensures future stability. Yet, in Nigeria, the education system is being systematically dismantled—not just by neglect but by deliberate actions of those in power who benefit from keeping the masses uneducated.
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| Angela Bassett at the 56th NAACP Image Awards Photo Credit: Highsnobiety |
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| Photo by Nappy on Unsplash |
Why are Black bodies still disproportionately carrying the weight of disease, suffering, and medical neglect?
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| Images by Abubakar Balogun on Unsplash |
From the beginning of civilization and before humans began to grasp the true nature of the world around them, hunger has been a long-standing issue. The world’s approach to tackling it has evolved over time, some being successful while others lead to famine and malnutrition. Food aid has been a crucial part of hunger relief, yet we need a more innovative and sustainable approach to tackling this problem.
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| The GRAMMY Award Image by the Recording Academy |
Ramatu Ada Ochekliye
The 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards happened on February 2, 2025, and as usual, it was a night of glitz, glamor, and a celebration of some of the most talented music creators in the world.
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| Photo by Ahmed akacha on Pexels |
By Glory Ogunbodede
Displacement is a pressing global issue, affecting millions of people worldwide.
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| Panelists at the Inaugural Girls Education Summit. Image by Shades of Us |
By Cynthia Umeh
On November 21, 2024, we had the honor of attending the Girls Education Summit 2024 (GES'24), hosted by the Girls Education Access Initiative (GEAI), in partnership with NGYouthSDGs, and in collaboration with The Stand With A Girl Initiative (SWAG), Tabitha Empowerment Centre (TEC), and Shades of Us. The theme of the summit was ‘Championing the Rights of Young Women and Girls to Quality Education in Policy and Practice’, a timely discussion given the significant barriers girls face in accessing education across Nigeria.
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| Image by PAGED Initiative at the Amplifying Voices Against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Event |
By Cynthia Umeh
On November 27, 2024, the Participatory Communication for Gender Development (PAGED) Initiative in partnership with Dorothy Njemanze Foundation (DNF) hosted a transformative discourse event at Cavic Hub, Abuja, themed ‘Speaking Out Against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and Its Impact on Girls’ Education’. This gathering brought together advocates, survivors, and key stakeholders to discuss actionable solutions for combating SGBV and empowering girls to access education without fear.
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| Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels |
by Atinuke Adeosun
Africa’s digital revolution connects millions to new opportunities, fostering communication, learning, and innovation. However, this transformation also has a dark side. Digital platforms have become fertile ground for cyberbullying and online harassment, disproportionately targeting women and minorities.
