When most Nigerians fall sick, their first stop isn’t the clinic, it’s the chemist, a neighbour, or a home remedy. It feels normal, even responsible. But this “normal” comes with serious consequences.In 2021 alone, over 50,000 Nigerians died directly from drug resistance, and 47% of adults self-medicated with antibiotics without prescriptions. Behind these numbers are invisible forces, social norms that shape how we make health decisions:
This episode dives deep into how these norms influence trust, delay care, and endanger lives, and how communities can rewrite these habits to make safe choices the normal ones.Join the conversation to learn practical ways we can all shift harmful norms for better health outcomes.🎧 Listen to Episode 23 now: “Norms & Health-Seeking Behaviour.”Let’s challenge the habits that put our health at risk, and rebuild trust in our health system, one conversation at a time.
In collaboration with Sustaining Action for Gender Equality (SAGE), we partnered with Policy Innovation Centre for a fireside chat session at the Gender Inclusion Summit, 2025.Dr. Raihanah Ibrahim (SCIDaR) led the conversation, urging institutions to go beyond just awareness and design systems that actually create space for women. Through the SAGE program, SCIDaR is showing how practical changes like mentorship, childcare support, board parity, and flexible policies can create the kind of environments that foster real change.Dorothy Njemanze of (DNF) reminded everyone that equity conversations must be rooted in the lived experiences of women, especially those who’ve survived gender-based violence. Also, Tola Sunmonu-Balogun (McKinsey & Company) spoke about the barriers women face in health systems due to social norms and institutional biases. This discourse proves that gender-intentional programming isn’t optional—it’s the equity model for sustainable impact. Changing social norms takes time, but with empathy, leadership commitment, and survivor-centered systems, we can reshape the future for good.Relive the experience here.#SocialNorms #PIC #PolicyInnovation #PolicyInnovationCentre #Gender #GenderEquity #GIS #GS25 #GenderandInclusionSummit #GenderandInclusionSummit2025 #SNALC #SAGE #SCIDaR #Norms #FaithLeaders #Entertainment
How do we shift the norms shaping Nigeria’s future?
In collaboration with Sustaining Action for Gender Equality (SAGE), we partnered with Policy Innovation Centre for a webinar which was a build up to the Gender Inclusion Summit, 2025.
From television and digital media to pulpits, mosques, and community gatherings, storytellers and spiritual leaders remain central in shaping what is possible and permissible in society.
This conversation, themed “Influencing Norms, Inspiring Change: The Role of Entertainers and Faith Leaders”, brought together thought leaders to explore one of the most critical levers for change: the voices that shape everyday life.
Join us in reliving the experience.
🎙 What does it really take to shift harmful social norms in
Nigeria?
In this episode of Norms Lab, we explore how trusted faith leaders, cultural champions, and entertainment media are helping reimagine gender, power, and identity in Nigerian communities. Join Anjola Ayodele in conversation with: Haishat Olufadi-Ahmed, public health expert and lead researcher; and Oluwafunmilayo Raheem, social norms strategist. Together, we break down findings from a deep dive on interventions like MTV Shuga
Discover how the 2024 Social Norms Conference transcends traditional research, driving actionable solutions for today’s critical issues—from women’s agency and climate resilience to family dynamics and digital innovation. Whether you’re a social innovator, change-maker, or simply passionate about building a better future, tune in to learn why this conference is essential for anyone invested in social transformation—and why you won’t want to miss it!
Digital media has emerged as a powerful tool for addressing the maternal health crisis in Anglophone West Africa. It offers unprecedented opportunities to challenge the social and gender norms impacting interventions, raise awareness, and improve access to healthcare.
Dr. Valentine Amasiatu, senior research associate at SCIDaR, joins this episode's discussion to share his experiences/lessons learnt while leading the Antenatal Risk Stratification project to drive positive change in this sector.
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Gender norms—deeply ingrained societal expectations about the roles and behaviors of men and women—are increasingly influenced by the content, interactions, and algorithms that define our online experiences. While digital media has the potential to challenge and dismantle harmful stereotypes, it can also reinforce traditional gender roles, often in subtle yet pervasive ways.
Listen to Aminat Salaudeen, Women’s Rights & Safety Officer at TechHerNG, and Khadija Lawan, gender integration specialist, as they share their experiences on how digital media shapes gender perceptions and what this means for the broader goals of gender equality.
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The rapid growth of digital platforms—ranging from social media giants like Facebook and Instagram to niche communities on Reddit and WhatsApp—has fundamentally changed how we communicate, form relationships, and establish social norms. Unlike traditional social settings, where norms are often rooted in long-standing cultural and societal practices, digital communities offer a dynamic and fluid environment where norms can be created, challenged, and reshaped at an unprecedented pace.
In this episode, Nsidibe-Abasi Joy Una, the Chief of Staff and Special Initiatives Lead at Gatefield, shared valuable insights into how digital communities are shaping contemporary social standards and offer strategies for leveraging digital platforms to promote positive change.
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The global prevalence estimates of child labour have reported an increase, for the first time in two decades (ILO, 2021, p.9). According to the ILO and NBS, 39.2% of children engaged in child labour in Nigeria. Among the antecedents of child labour, including poverty, parental history of child labour, immigration status, and educational status, recent research evidence from several countries identifies social and cultural norms as one of the key causes of child labour. Social norms regulate people's actions within the social order and characterize shared expectations among people.
Osoba Olukemi Olapeju, an experienced professional, shared insights on approaches to address the social norms perpetuating child labour by bridging the knowledge gap and empowering listeners to challenge social norms that perpetuate child labour.
The podcast episode aims to explore a fundamental and transformative aspect of social change. Families are the foundational units of society where values, behaviours, and beliefs are first instilled. Understanding and leveraging this influence is essential for driving meaningful and sustainable social change. This episode aligns with our focus on social norms, agency, and gender and provides actionable insights and inspiration from an experienced guest, Mukhtar Ibrahim-Gaya, who committed to fostering positive development outcomes
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Many people in West Africa lack access to comprehensive and accurate information on Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH). Traditional beliefs, stigma, and cultural norms often hinder open discussions and access to reliable sources. As a result, unintended pregnancy rates remain high, driven by limited access to family planning services and contraceptives. Maternal and child mortality rates are also elevated due to inadequate SRH care, including insufficient antenatal care, skilled delivery attendance, and postpartum care. Additionally, HIV/AIDS and STIs continue to be significant public health concerns in the region.
In this episode of normslab, we dive into Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), promoting awareness and challenging the stigma surrounding these topics. We discuss what needs to be done to empower individuals to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health, ultimately contributing to better health outcomes.
Despite increasing recognition of the importance of diversity and inclusion, women entrepreneurs continue to face significant challenges rooted in societal norms and biases. Listen as Yemisi Isidi, the co-founder of Triift Africa, explores deeply ingrained norms that often erode confidence, limit decision-making autonomy, and curtail opportunities for women within the entrepreneurial landscape.
The introduction of the HPV vaccine in Nigeria represents a monumental stride towards safeguarding our girls from the grips of cervical cancer.
However, the uptake of HPV vaccination faces unique challenges, particularly when viewed through the lens of gender norms.
Join us as Dr. Hannatu Ayuba, an experienced medical professional, explores the complexities surrounding HPV, its impact, and the gender-specific barriers that impede its effective vaccination in Nigeria.
In this latest episode of Normslab Dr. John Ovuoraye, the Director of Gender Adolescent School Health and Elderly (GASHE) Division, Family Health Department, Federal Ministry of Health, and Akinola Akinwumi, a Senior Research Specialist and the Insights Lead for the behavioral innovation lab at the Policy Innovation Centre led the discussions on the various gender mainstreaming policies affecting social norms and the agency of the people to act. Listen to the full episode for great insights from these industry experts.
In this thought-provoking episode of Normslab, we discussed the transformative power of advancing women's agency in shifting negative social and gender norms. Our guest Dr. Plangsat Dayil, the Gender Advisor of the development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC), shares her personal journeys and experiences, offering valuable insights into the obstacles women face in societies entrenched with harmful norms. Through compelling anecdotes and research-backed discussions, we explore the ways in which women are reclaiming their narratives and dismantling stereotypes that have persistently limited their potential.
In our latest podcast, "Social Norms, Child Health, and Nutrition," our guests, Dr. Aisha Faruk, Field Coordinator at AFENET, and Beatrice Eluaka, an independent consultant/nutritionist, led the discussions on the social norms that impact the nutrition of pregnant women and children.
During the conversation we discussed the connections between the health of pregnant and breastfeeding women, their socioeconomic status, education levels, and the nutritional well-being of children as well as the far-reaching consequences of malnutrition on developmental trajectories, ongoing policies and interventions combating this issue.
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The urban-rural divide in health is a major public health problem in Nigeria. People living in rural areas are more likely to experience poor health, have lower life expectancy, and have less access to healthcare. For example, the maternal mortality rate in rural areas is twice as high as in urban areas, and the infant mortality rate in rural areas is 15% higher than in urban areas. This is due to a number of factors, including poverty, limited access to healthcare, difficult terrain, and social norms. Social norms can play a significant role in shaping health outcomes, such as the social norm in some rural communities that discourages women from seeking healthcare during pregnancy and childbirth. The podcast episode will explore the urban-rural continuum in Nigeria and discuss the challenges of bridging disparities in health with Dr. Shittu of Breakthrough ACTION Nigeria, Dr karaunmata, the Deputy Director public health and Disease Control from Kano state ministry of Health
In the latest episode of our Norms Lab Podcast, we had the pleasure of hosting Lois Aderomose and Emilia Okon. Our conversation shone the spotlight on the persistent and pressing issue of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Social norms in Nigeria, examining the various faces it wears and the silent accomplice it often finds in prevailing social norms.
Our discussion ventured into the territory of solutions - exploring innovative, norm-shifting approaches that have the potential to build safe havens for women, enabling them to break their silence.
Nigeria has one of the highest rates of out-of-school children in the world, and girls are disproportionately affected by this problem. According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), 10.5 million children in Nigeria are out of school, and 60% of these children are girls 1.
In this episode, Judith Gbagidi - the Head of Programs for Education as a Vaccine; an organization that works in partnership with children, adolescents and young people to advance their rights to health, Gender Equality and protection from all forms of violence by strengthening capacities, providing direct services and influencing policies, for improved quality of life - converses with the host, Halima Buba, on how social norms affect girls' access to education.
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The mental health challenges faced by women are unique and varied across different stages of life. From adolescence to menopause, women may face a range of stressors and pressures that can impact their mental well-being, including societal expectations, gender-based discrimination, hormonal changes, and caregiving responsibilities. These challenges are often worsened by stigma and lack of access to resources. Addressing women's mental health needs is crucial to breaking the cycle of mental health challenges.
In this episode, Ibifubara Davies , a Psychologist and Researcher who through her work in her private psychotherapy practice and other mediums, has provided support and resources to people dealing with mental health issues and Joy Ubong , an Advocacy and Research Officer in She Writes Woman (SWW), where she is currently giving her quota to seeing a stigmatized-free society, discuss with the host, Halima Buba, how social norms affect women's mental health.
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For enquiries and collaboration, email us at info@nigerialearningcollaborative.com.
