Empowering Futures, Unleashing Potentials

Nigeria has more than a handful of artisans who contribute to the wealth and gain of the country through their crafts. Despite their conspicuous role in nation-building, artisans in Nigeria struggle every day with the challenge of connecting with the right clients or getting fair enumeration, compensation for their labour, or being replaced by a foreign artisan. A KMPGH1 2023 report says that Nigeria has been relying heavily on foreign artisans especially in the construction sector - from masonry and iron bending to electrical work and carpentry, among others. A surprising fact states that Nigeria needs approximately 1.5 million artisans yearly, hence they're resorting to imports to fill this staggering deficit. This dependence on foreign labor extracts a hefty toll on the nation's economy, with an estimated $4.5 billion annually flowing out of the country. The gravity of the situation is underscored by a looming unemployment rate, projected to reach a disconcerting 41 percent, KPMG's H1 2023 report says. Aside from the import of skilled artisans into the country, the problem of artisans gets even worse by the day as digital innovations and platforms gradually replace traditional marketplace. They also struggle to find good markets because they mostly deal with middlemen. These middlemen don't pay them much, and the craftsmen find it tough to get loans from banks. Many craftsmen don't even know about the internet and miss out on selling their products online. The hardships faced by these artisans are glaring. The lack of adequate training, poor infrastructure, a dearth of financial resources, and an inability to tap into the wealth digital space provides have left them grappling for survival. The ongoing trend has led to the abandoning of traditional crafts due to financial difficulties, also, the gap between artisans and potential clients, especially in urban areas, remains wide, impeding the growth and visibility of these skilled individuals.

In rural Nigeria, the journey to education, health, and social progress for young girls is often hindered by the pervasive challenges surrounding menstrual hygiene management. Shockingly, over 500 million women and girls worldwide lack adequate facilities for menstrual hygiene, and in Nigeria, a staggering 25% of girls and women face the daily struggle of insufficient privacy for menstrual hygiene management. The repercussions are profound, with one in 10 African girls missing school during their menstrual period, perpetuating a cycle of educational setbacks that can lead to long-term consequences. This educational crisis stems from issues such as the lack of functional and segregated toilets, limited access to menstrual hygiene information, and the scarcity of sanitary materials, leaving countless girls on the sidelines of education. Beyond the walls of their classrooms, access to sanitary pads remains a dire challenge, with over 37 million Nigerian girls and women of reproductive age struggling with the unaffordability of menstrual hygiene products. This economic barrier, known as period poverty, not only hampers educational attendance but also exposes young girls to health risks due to the use of unsafe alternatives like paper, clothing, or rags. The health implications are severe, ranging from urinary tract infections to reproductive organ infections, and in extreme cases, infertility and life-threatening conditions such as toxic shock sepsis. The urgency to address this multifaceted crisis is evident, requiring a comprehensive and well-tailored health program designed to empower these girls and uplift their communities.