By Joy Nora
Women in Nigeria are consistently erased, misrepresented, or silenced in mainstream media. Gender disinformation, harmful stereotypes, and the absence of feminist reporting continue to fuel stigma, injustice, and policy neglect.
As such, Naija Feminists Media was established in August 2024 to change the status quo.
The media and advocacy organisation uses journalism, technology, and education to advance gender equality in Nigeria.
From raising millions for a male violence survivor to ending cyberbullying against a women’s rights advocate, the organisation has achieved key milestones in 12 months.
This includes:
N3 Million Raised for a GBV Survivor
After reporting a disturbing case of gender-based violence involving 14-year-old Mercy Vangervihi, donations from Nigerians poured in, exceeding N3 million within 24 hours to cover the survivor’s medical expenses.
The case, shared by NFM community member Egbo Chisom, revealed that Mercy was raped while asleep in her home in Ebonyi state. She sustained a life-threatening acute epidural hematoma and urgently needed N2.5 million for surgery. NFM’s reporting mobilised Nigerians to fund Mercy’s treatment, saving her life.
Ending Cyberbullying and Online Violence
On January 31, 2025, a male Facebook user falsely declared the death of Priscilla Ayodele, a women’s rights activist in Nigeria, claiming she was a ritual victim.
The post, edited with “RIP” text and shared on a large Facebook group, was triggered by Priscilla challenging his sexist comments. NFM investigated, exposed the truth, and contacted the offender, leading to the post’s removal by Facebook. Priscilla’s experience revealed how digital spaces are weaponised against women. NFM’s fact-checking protected her and sent a wider message about online safety.
Supporting Women’s Education
To reduce the number of out-of-school young women in Nigeria, NFM helped raise funds for female university students facing financial hardship. One of such cases was a first-class Mass Communication student at Lead City University, who was at risk of dropping out. Through donations and support from our community, the organisation raised over N486,275 to cover her 300-level tuition.
Shaping Conversations Through Digital Advocacy
NFM’s campaigns have sparked nationwide conversations on key feminist issues, including rape culture, digital safety, female genital mutilation, menstrual stigma, and women’s leadership, thereby amplifying the voices of women across various sectors.
In the past 12 months, the organisation have hosted over ten X Spaces, each averaging 100 listeners, successfully engaging the public in conversations that matter. These sessions have featured women professionals whose expertise and lived experiences deepened public understanding of the topics discussed, providing broader knowledge and insight.
Guiding Policy Through Research
Over the past few months, Naija Feminists Media have released six policy briefs. These briefs and our research insights have offered lawmakers practical steps to drive meaningful reforms in laws and systems affecting Nigerian women and girls.
