I still remember the morning — April 27th, 2022.
The sun was gentle, the air felt new, and I walked into the UNICEF Field Office in Kano without knowing my life was about to take a completely new direction.
I was just a curious girl attending a programme on Girls in ICT and STEM… but that day did more than inspire me, it awakened a purpose I didn’t know was waiting inside me.
That was the day I discovered U-Report — a space where young people speak, act, and spark change with their voices. I signed up immediately… with excitement, maybe a little fear, but mostly hope. I didn’t know it then, but I had just taken my first step into becoming a youth advocate.
My First Taste of Impact: A Door-to-Door Mission
A few months later, I joined the Birth Registration Campaign — and it changed me.
I wasn’t behind a screen anymore; I was in the community, face-to-face with parents who never knew how important a birth certificate was. We knocked on doors, answered questions, reassured families, and guided them step-by-step.
And when I saw the relief in parents’ eyes after securing this document for their children, I felt something shift within me
“This is what purpose feels like.”
Using My Voice to Save Lives
Fast-forward to 2025 — the year everything accelerated.
During the Polio Vaccination Campaign, we didn’t just repost facts; we fought misinformation. We had conversations online and in streets, we listened, we explained, and slowly… the doubts turned into acceptance.
Families who once feared vaccines began to encourage others. That’s when I understood — advocacy isn’t just giving information; it’s building trust.
Walking for the Planet We Call Home
June 4th — World Environment Day.
Heat, dust, plastic waste everywhere — but we walked.
From Audu Bako Secretariat to Dangi Roundabout in Kano, we picked litter, spoke to strangers, and reminded people that environmental change starts with them. One bottle picked, one person educated, one mind shifted — advocacy in motion.
That day, I felt the power of collective action. Not perfect people — just young people who care.
Learning, Growing, Leading
In just one year, U-Report exposed me to issues that shape lives:
✨ Polio & HPV vaccination — protecting children and empowering girls to live long, healthy lives.
🍼 Breastfeeding awareness — giving babies the strongest first start.
🧠 Adolescent health & mental well-being — speaking on radio, breaking myths, guiding teens.
🚺 Menstrual hygiene & reusable pads training — restoring dignity and keeping girls in school.
One moment I was attending sessions… and next, I was hosting conversations, speaking on radio, training girls, and leading campaigns with confidence.
I didn’t just gain knowledge —
I found my voice.
The Girl I Was vs. The Woman I’m Becoming
Before U-Report, I was quiet. Unsure. Curious, but afraid to speak too loudly.
Today?
I am a leader.
A changemaker.
A young woman who knows her voice can move people and her actions can change her community.
U-Report didn’t just teach me advocacy — it taught me courage, empathy, leadership, resilience, and purpose.
Why I Keep Going
Every campaign reminds me:
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A child getting vaccinated is a win.
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A mother choosing to exclusively breastfeed is a win.
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A girl confidently attending school during her period is a win.
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A parent getting a birth certificate for their child is a win.
Small wins. But when you stack them?
Your community changes.
To You Reading This…
Yes — you.
Your voice is enough. Your actions are enough.
You don’t need a title to make impact — you just need to start.
Platforms like U-Report exist because young people deserve to shape the world they live in.
So take that step.
Join U-Report! Speak Out!. Volunteer.! Show up.
Because the change we dream of won’t happen someday —
it happens when people like you and I choose to act.
