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| Image by Shades of Us |
On July 17, 2026, I sat in my room listening to people talk about how to change minds, and I heard something that made me pause: “As a writer, know what your why is.” Hearing this made me know that this is all I needed to hear and work with when writing stories or blogs.
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| 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.
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| Photo by Eyo Archibong on Unsplash |
By Ojonugwa Yahaya
To see through the eyes of the daughters of Africa is to witness a vision shaped by history, resilience, and an unwavering sense of hope. These eyes carry the memory of women who endured hardship with quiet strength, who tilled the soil under relentless sun, who held families together through scarcity and uncertainty, and who passed down to their daughters not only survival but also the courage to imagine more.
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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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| Shades of Us at the Global Girl Leadership Project (GGP) Conference at Waru, Abuja. |
By Cynthia Umeh
Shades of Us was at the Global Girl Leadership Project (GGP) Conference at Waru, Abuja. This event, organized by Strong Enough Girl Empowerment Initiative (SEGEI) in partnership with the Global Girl Project, aimed to address the pressing issue of teenage pregnancy and its ripple effects on young girls and their communities.
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| Panel Session on 'Driving Ownership of Anti-SGBV Safeguarding Practices Across Nigerian Tertiary Institutions'. Image Credit: Shehu Musa Yar'adua Foundation |
By Cynthia Umeh
On November 28, 2024, the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation, with support from Ford Foundation, and in partnership with Education as a Vaccine, Gender Mobile, and TechHer Nigeria, hosted a public policy forum titled, ‘Driving Ownership of Anti-SGBV Safeguarding Practices Across Nigerian Tertiary Institutions’. This event aimed to address the pervasive issue of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Nigerian tertiary institutions and to discuss actionable strategies for creating safer campuses.
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| Photo by ShotPot on Pexels |
By Cynthia Umeh
Domestic violence leaves deep and enduring scars—physical, emotional, and psychological. For survivors, the journey to recovery can feel daunting, but healing is possible. It begins with recognizing the pain, seeking help, and cultivating a supportive environment to rediscover one’s sense of self.
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| Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels |
By Umeh Cynthia
In the journey towards sustainable development, investing in the education, training, and employment of young people is not just a goal—it is a necessity. Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8) highlights the importance of promoting youth employment, education, and training to foster inclusive and sustainable economic growth. By 2020, the aim was to substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education, or training. While progress has been made, there is still much work to be done.
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| Photo by Angela Roma on Pexels |
By Umeh Cynthia
Assuring equal opportunities and minimizing outcome disparities are essential cornerstones in the endeavor to create a just and equitable society. To accomplish Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8), it is imperative that discriminatory laws, policies, and practices are abolished and that acceptable laws, policies, and actions are promoted. It is about establishing an environment in which everyone, regardless of background or situation, has an equal chance to prosper.
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| Our Film, Report It, which addresses gender-based violence and sexual abuse, was screened at the 2023 Abuja Literary and Arts Festival (ALITFEST). |
By Cynthia Umeh
Stories, from ancient myths, passed down through generations to modern-day social justice initiatives, have an unrivaled potential to inspire, educate, and organize people toward common goals. In light of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), storytelling emerges as an important instrument for encouraging understanding, empathy, and action toward a more sustainable and equitable future.
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| Premiere of FLOW in Abuja |
I did a thing!
For the last few weeks, I have been saying this regularly about every achievement I have because I tend to find the faults in my ‘stars’ rather than celebrate the luminance that they represent. I constantly have to remember to be my first cheerleader.
So…I did a thing. Or more appropriately, we (Shades of Us) did a thing! We developed our first film in two years. This one is called FLOW.
By Atinuke Adeosun
Introduction:
The 2023 Abuja Literary and Arts Festival (ALitFest) is happening from September 3 - 10, 2023. The theme for the festival this year is 'Becoming One With the Other' and it is a celebration of literature and art through workshops and booth camps, a stage play, panel session, book and art fairs, film screening, fashion and art exhibitions, music and poetry concert, the poetry grand slam, and a gala night with sponsors.
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| Book Chat with Isa Umar Tela |
