As we have begun a new year, we look back at some of FAME Foundation’s highlights from 2021.

January

The year started on a good note with the signing of an MoU between FAME Foundation and FCT Football Association for the PLAY it DREAM it Monthly Boot-camp for Internally Displaced Girls in the FCT.

We also continued our PLAY it DREAM it Tuesday weekly conversation with sports experts and enthusiasts, with Ms. Tega Onojaife, a sports producer and presenter for Smooth 98.1 FM Radio and the Founder of the Ladies in Sport Conference, as the first guest of the year.

The end of January saw the launching of the Boot-camp on January 29, 2021.

February

In early February, we organized a 3-day conversation on Female Genital Mutilation, in line with the global theme #Act2EndFGM.

Registration for the HerSTEM 6-months training for women and girls with disabilities was open to the general public. Out of over 100 applicants, about 50 women and girls with disabilities were enrolled in the free cohort training in different STEM courses.

Leading to the full commencement of the PLAY it DREAM it project phase for 2021, we received over 70 applications from individuals willing to volunteer under the project. 

The February boot camp was also organized having 65 internally displaced girls in attendance.

March

To celebrate Women’s Month and commemorate International Women’s Day, FAME organized two events. An outreach at Durumi 2 rural community, with the theme, “Women as Change Agents”, and an outdoor yoga exercise, themed “Yoga for Equality.

In March, a call for volunteers and tutors was sent out for the HerSTEM Initiative, set to start in May. A total of 35 applications of interest were received.

March ended with the PLAY it DREAM it monthly Boot-camp.

April

To commemorate International Day of Girls in ICT, FAME launched the HerSTEM Initiative, aimed at creating space and opportunities for women and girls with disabilities in STEM.

The initiative in partnership with the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation and the Switzerland Embassy in Nigeria was officially launched by H.E Mrs. Dolapo Osinbanjo, the wife of the Nigerian Vice President.

May

FAME Foundation on May 27, 2021, marked Children’s Day in collaboration with HIYA Nigeria, NAPPS Nigeria, and Zeitgeist Aesthetics in solidarity with all bereaved children who have been affected by the insecurity challenges currently faced in the country

The HerSTEM 6-months cohort training for about 50 women and girls with disabilities officially commenced in May at the Raw Material Development and Research Council, Maitama.

In May, Aderonke Ogunleye-Bello, our Executive Director, was a speaker in two high-level interactive webinars to discuss the power of sports for impact and achieving gender equality at the Sport4Impact 2nd International Conference and the UN Women Virtual Africa Roundtable on Women and Sports.

May saw a series of engagements on our online space. We engaged our Twitter audience on a conversation titled, “Post-covid Impact on Average Nigerian Child” and tweet chat on Women, Covid-19, and Mental Health. Also, we organized an online advocacy campaign to mark Menstrual Hygiene Day.

June

We launched an open call for application for a Photography Mentoring Boot camp, exclusively for young women with Bayo Omoboriwo, the personal photographer to the Nigerian President.

In June, we received a donation of 10 and 5 desktop computers to the HerSTEM Initiative from the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation and the Raw Material Development and Research Council, respectively.

July

In July, we signed a new financial agreement and partnership of 20,000 Euros with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) towards the PLAY it DREAM it project.

HerSTEM participants were also taken on an educational tour at the National Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.

August

In August, Anna Mambula, our Programme Manager, represented our organization at a 4-day training program for the Line Up Live Up Initiative sponsored by the EU and implemented by UNODC.

Our Executive Director was selected as a representative and member of the Federal Government Team on the UNODC LULU Program for out-of-school children and youth.

August saw the end of the PLAY it DREAM it monthly boot camp.

September

September saw us conduct an online campaign to mark Deaf Awareness Month.

We also had an increase in the FAME team with the arrival of two undergraduate female interns.

October

In October, we organized a school outreach at LEA Primary school, Kpadna in commemoration of International Day of the Girl-Child. We also released a video compilation advocating for women and girls’ involvement in STEM, especially those with disabilities.

We were engaged in an Instagram live conversation on Positioning the Girl-child for today’s Digital Era, with Clean Energy Hub.

Our Executive Director was featured in an NTA interview on the involvement of Nigerian girls in STEM.

We were represented at a radio interview on the power of sports for development and equality at the Nigeria Police Radio 99.1FM, Abuja.

The HerSTEM 6-months cohort training ended with a fun-filled indoor picnic at the Swiss Residence.

November

In November, we marked the 16 days of activism by launching our ORANGElympics Initiative, aimed at using sports as a tool to advocate against GBV. Social media campaigns and conversations were held surrounding society and GBV. A football event was also organized at Jabi Kpadna, Abuja.

A community empowerment outreach was organized at Durumi 1 village, with over 15 women given starter packs to start their cake-baking business.

Our Executive Director was also chosen as one of the 16 men and women standing against the violation of women’s rights, by the Women FM.

December

The year ended on a great note for us with the nomination of PLAY it DREAM it in the International Sports Award 2021 under the “Diversity and Inclusion Award” category.

Looking forward

Gender equality is the heart of what we do at FAME Foundation. It centers us as we live through the recovery of the coronavirus, economic disruptions, and calls for women’s empowerment and gender justice—as well as the uncertainty of what might come next.

2021 was another remarkable year for us at FAME Foundation, as it is a testament to the commitment and compassion of our partner agencies, our financial supporters, our volunteers, and our staff. It has not always been easy, but the result of all that effort is undeniable.

In 2021, the battle to win over the Covid-19 pandemic continued with the successful production of the Covid-19 vaccines. The pandemic has further revealed the inequalities, non-inclusion, and other social challenges in our society. That has further pushed us to remain true to our mission to better the conditions of the vulnerable groups in our society, especially the women and girls in under-served and grassroots communities and people with disabilities.

One powerful lesson we learned in 2021 was the importance of an equal and inclusive society. The support and inclusion of vulnerable groups will fasten our nation’s growth and development. 

As we move into 2022, we will remain focused on advocating and working towards an equal and inclusive society by committing our resources, expertise, networks, and partnerships to amplify the voices of women and girls, advance their interests and implement sustainable solutions to their challenges. 

Great things are underway, and we wish you all to be part of them!