Millions of young girls and women in Nigeria face the devastating consequences of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
“The country has one of the highest rates of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) worldwide, with around 19.9 million survivors.” FGM, a harmful practice mainly performed on girls as infants and up to 15 years, leaves deep scars on both body and mind, which include infections, severe bleeding, depression, and obstetric complications while taking away bodily autonomy.
“In 2012, 27% of Nigerian women aged 15 to 49 had experienced FGM.” While some progress was made—FGM rates halved in certain areas over the past 30 years—it’s rising again among girls under 15. In 2022, UNICEF placed Nigeria as the third-highest country globally for FGM among young girls, making it clear that more must be done to protect their rights and health.
The Voices for Change project to end FGM in Amagu Unuphu community in Ebonyi state, Nigeria.
The Voices for Change Project, piloted by CHESIDS and the Global Youth Consortium Against FGM, Equips FGM survivors to advocate for an end to the practice. Through leadership training, mentorship, and community dialogue, participants gained skills in storytelling, advocacy, and engaging local stakeholders. Highlights included young women in Ebonyi State sharing powerful stories that inspired family members and community leaders to reconsider FGM. This project marked a meaningful step toward ending FGM by building survivor-led advocacy at the grassroots level.
The Major Project highlights were:
Training: The project began with a 3-day training of trainers leadership session, mentorship, and community dialogues. Survivors learned advocacy skills, media engagement, and how to address cultural sensitivities around FGM.
Local Champions: In Ebonyi State, young champions like Lucy and Mavis emerged, gaining confidence in sharing stories and inspiring other survivors to speak out and advocate for change.
Community Impact: Mentorship led to significant community engagement, with 10 young women becoming advocates. Their efforts inspired conversations in families and communities, sparking shifts in perspective about FGM’s harmful effects.
Ripple Effect: Participants like Ofoegbu Chineye and Umoke Perpetual engaged family and neighbors, helping others reconsider FGM practices while advocating for education on FGM in schools.
Strengthening Connections: CHESIDS Visits her Key Immersion Partners.
CHESIDS recently embarked on a series of partnership visits to valued collaborators, including NOI-Polls, TA-Connect, HAFAI, ARC-ESM, GEM-HUB Initiative, SCIDaR, and Options Consultancy, all vital partners in The Next Hundred Public Health Stewards (TNH-PHS) program. The visits were an opportunity to share progress updates on the TNH-PHS program, highlight key learnings, and express deep appreciation for each partner’s contributions and dedication to equipping the next generation of public health leaders.
These partners have generously lent their expertise and resources to support CHESIDS’ initiatives. They provide immersive experiences for the stewards to deepen their understanding of public health practice in Nigeria. By extending immersion periods and offering employment mentoring to these stewards, they are accelerating the absorption of young people into Nigeria’s public health space.
CHESIDS Celebrates a Decade of Impact! 🎉
For 10 years, CHESIDS has championed better health outcomes and resilient communities! We have worked with communities to make lasting differences through partnerships with youth, strengthening the health system, and providing unwavering support for women, children, and youth. Each milestone has been fueled by commitment and collaboration, from tooling the next generation of health leaders to addressing critical public health issues.
Here’s to 10 years of positive change, growth, community resilience—and many more impactful years ahead!
The Next Hundred Public Health Stewards – Kano Edition!
CHESIDS successfully hosted the 9th cohort of The Next Hundred Public Health Stewards (TNH-PHS) program in Kano State in collaboration with IdevPro-African Institute. This impactful three-day orientation was designed to empower young, driven individuals to become community leaders and change-makers through public health.
This cohort marks a milestone—our first 100 tooled public health stewards—each now equipped with critical skills, from technology use to emergency response strategies, to lead impactful health initiatives in their communities.
Coming Up Next!
The Next Hundred Impactful Storytellers Workshop, a CHESIDS initiative in collaboration with Olufunke Olufon.
Through this workshop, you will:
- Understand the role of storytelling in shaping and communicating a professional brand.
- Identify key elements of personal and professional experiences that contribute to a strong brand narrative.
- Learn storytelling techniques to communicate personal brand messages.
Participation is FREE, but you MUST Register below to secure your spot!
