Violence Against Women
Two radio soap operas designed to increase knowledge around family planning, HIV/AIDS, adolescent reproductive health, women's education, and gender-based violence have hit the airwaves.
Tafigawalo (Working towards Change) in Pidgin, and Hannunka Mai Sanda (Power in your Hands) in Hausa, written and produced by Population Media Centre (PMC) began broadcast on 6 July 2015.
Tafigawalo is broadcast on Treasure FM in Rivers State on Mondays and Tuesdays from 1:45 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. with repeats on Wednesdays and Sundays, and on DSBC FM (Melody FM) in Delta State on Mondays and Fridays from 4:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.m with repeats on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Hannunka Mai Sanda is broadcast in three States: Zuma FM in Niger State on Mondays and Fridays at 7:30 a.m. with repeats on Wednesdays and Sundays; on Pride FM in the Zamfara State on 103.5 Gasau on Mondays and Tuesdays at 9:45 a.m. and repeats on Wednesdays and Thursdays beginning on July 13; and broadcast on Globe FM in Bauchi State starts on July 20 where listeners can tune in on Mondays and Wednesdays at 7:15 p.m or catch the repeat episodes on Fridays and Saturdays.
Both programs were originally broadcast in 2014 in other States in the country.
Speaking on the expanded broadcast of the dramas, Mr Ephraim Okon, PMC's Country Representative in Nigeria said, "This expansion will allow millions of additional listeners to benefit from the messages in the dramas." Adding that the new broadcast area includes 18 million additional people.
On his part, PMC's President Bill Ryerson said, "PMC has produced three other radio dramas in Nigeria with promising results. Sixty-seven percent of reproductive health clients in Ruwan Dare's broadcast area named that PMC program as their motivation to seek health services in 2009. We're pleased to have that kind of impact and are excited to partner with the MacArthur Foundation to continue to build on the good work being done in Nigeria."
Tafigawalo also addresses gender-based violence, an issue that is prevalent in Nigerian communities.
The expanded broadcast is funded by a grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.