Daud Olatunji
The Gender Development Initiative has called on Nigerian youths to champion reproductive health awareness, challenge gender-related stigma and promote collective responsibility through creative advocacy.
The call was made during the Campus Acoustic Session organised under the Ájọṣe (Togetherness) Campaign at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State, where students participated in discussions, drama, poetry, music and other interactive activities aimed at addressing reproductive health issues affecting women and girls.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of GenDi, Prof. Asimolowo, said the campaign was designed to encourage honest conversations on reproductive health and gender issues that are often shrouded in silence and misconceptions.
She explained that the Yoruba concept of Ájọṣe, which translates to togetherness and mutual cooperation, underscores the need for communities to support one another in addressing health and social challenges.
According to her, no one should be left to navigate reproductive health challenges alone.
She described the programme as a safe platform where participants could freely discuss issues such as rape, incest, abortion, stigma and access to reproductive healthcare without fear of discrimination.
“As an organisation, our goal is to create a supportive and non-judgmental environment where women and girls can access accurate information, guidance and quality reproductive healthcare services,” she said.
Prof. Asimolowo added that the campaign seeks to empower young people with knowledge, promote informed decision-making and encourage access to safe, legal and stigma-free healthcare services through education, advocacy and community outreach.
Also speaking, the Head of the Department of Drama, Federal College of Education, Abeokuta, commended GenDi for adopting creative arts as a tool for public enlightenment.
He urged participants to become advocates for gender equity and healthier communities by using their talents and platforms to promote empathy, inclusion and positive social change.
Although the Speaker of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Students’ Union Government was absent due to illness and academic commitments, his goodwill message was delivered, appreciating the organisers and encouraging students to apply the lessons learnt within their communities.
The event featured enlightenment sessions introducing participants to GenDi’s programmes and the objectives of the Ájọṣe Campaign before moving into interactive discussions on reproductive health, women’s rights and gender-based violence.
Participants also engaged in question-and-answer sessions, quizzes and games designed to deepen their understanding of the issues discussed.
A major highlight of the programme was the use of creative performances, including poetry, drama, advocacy chants and musical presentations, to communicate campaign messages.
The performances portrayed real-life experiences of stigma, discrimination and reproductive health challenges while promoting compassion, informed decision-making and community support.
Participants described the approach as engaging and impactful, noting that it made complex social issues easier to understand and relate to.
During a red-carpet session held before and after the programme, students shared their expectations and reflected on the lessons gained.
Many participants said they had acquired a better understanding of reproductive health issues, women’s rights and the importance of building supportive communities free from stigma and discrimination.
Throughout the event, organisers encouraged participants to listen with empathy, speak respectfully, support survivors without judgment, promote open conversations on reproductive health and use their individual platforms to educate others.
The campaign’s central message, “When care is shared, lives are saved,” resonated throughout the session as participants were reminded that lasting social change requires collective action and shared responsibility.
The organisers said the event strengthened collaboration between GenDi and the student community at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic while demonstrating the effectiveness of arts-based advocacy in promoting behavioural change, youth engagement and social inclusion.
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