The other day, I was talking to someone about how sanitary pads should be free or at least affordable for women and girls and more spaces for breastfeeding should be made available for women. The person looked at me like I was asking for too much. I smiled and said, “Have you noticed how quick governments and institutions say they have gender-friendly policies but often struggle to implement them in everyday settings?” Pads are a basic need for half the population in Nigeria yet it’s not a priority. Similarly, breastfeeding spaces are necessary for women to nurse their babies in comfort and privacy, yet most public places are not designed to accommodate this important aspect of life. These seemingly simple issues make me think of Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB). GRB is a way of planning and spending public money that considers everyone’s needs regardless of gender. It looks at where the money goes and asks if those choices make life better for all. The above is just a simple il...

  We, the Roseline Initiative @roseline_initiative in conjunction with The Chosen Inspiraa (@thechoseninspiraa ) and AfricHer Rising (@africherrising), thank God for the success of this project. To everyone who made this happen, may God bless you abundantly. Your dedication and hard work have truly made a significant difference, and we are profoundly grateful for your contributions. To the management of the schools represented, we express our heartfelt gratitude. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to education. We also extend our sincere appreciation to @bninitiative Kasot Press, and ifad Initiatives for their partnership over the years. We do not take it for granted. IDG #IDG2025 #DayOfTheGirl #DayOfTheGirlChild #InternationalDayOfTheGirl #InternationalDayOfTheGirl2025

  Over the years, each edition has had its own theme, and I have always felt a personal connection to them. When I saw this year’s theme, I paused. It didn’t immediately speak to my personal experience. I wondered: how have I been on the frontlines of crisis? I haven’t experienced war. I haven’t lived through floods. I haven’t endured a natural disaster. How, then, could I relate? Then I realized, education itself is a battlefield. The crises I have witnessed, the ones I have confronted, are quiet but profound: the barriers that prevent girls from learning, the stereotypes that tell a girl she is less than, the inequities that quietly erode dreams. These are the crises I have faced on the frontlines, one classroom, one conversation, one opportunity at a time. Leadership, service, and change are not forged only in dramatic events, they can be developed in these small, persistent struggles. Mentoring a girl to believe she can excel, creating spaces for learning where none exist, stan...