Norms Lab

When a girl is sent from her village to the city, the arrangement often arrives through someone trusted, an auntie, a grandmother, a neighbour who knows a family in Lagos. Her parents say “Nagode, Allah”, thank you, God and try to believe that school, safety and a better life are waiting on the other end of the journey. But for many girls, that hope quietly rearranges itself. She wakes before ever...

3 million Nigerian children begin their vaccination journey every year. Many don’t finish it. Most of the dropouts happens at the 9-month mark, right when the measles vaccine is due. In this episode of The Norms Lab Podcast , Anjola Ayodele sits with public health researchers Ernest Ezeogu and Mary Kuforiji to explore why children and crucially, what’s already working to change it.  This isn’t a c...

Nigeria’s new Basic Education Curriculum now requires every student to graduate with at least one practical or trade-related skill, a significant step toward expanding learning pathways and economic opportunity for students across the country. As this reform takes root, one important question emerges: when girls choose a skill, what shapes how free that choice really feels, especially when it goes...

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 nor...

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 l...

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 p...

🎙 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 nor...

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 soc...

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 l...

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 Salau...

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 en...

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 ident...

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 acti...

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 als...

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 gen...

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 affectin...

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...

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 wom...

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...

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...

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 work...

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...

50% of all maternal deaths in the world occur in sub-Saharan Africa. In Nigeria, for every 1000 live births, 5 women die. This is one of the highest rates in the world, with an estimated 59,000 maternal deaths occurring in the country each year, accounting for over 34 per cent of global maternal deaths (WHO). In this episode, Hadiza Salele , a public health professional with over 8 years of experi...

The life expectancy at birth and universal health coverage service coverage index are typically much lower in low and middle-income (LMIC) countries than in higher-income countries. In this episode, Sushmita Mukherjee, Director of Gender at Project Concern International India, and Dr Habib Tijjani, Programme Manager of the Routine Immunisation Programme in Kano State, Nigeria, discuss with the hos...