NSSF unveils WeNaija Campaign 5.0 to tackle gaps in sex education
The Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF) has unveiled its WeNaija Campaign 5.0, the fifth edition of its national youth campaign, running September 8 – November 8, 2025, with the theme “Own Your Choice.”
This is contained in a statement signed by the Managing Director/CEO of NSSF, Dr Fejiro Chinye-Nwoko, on Friday in Lagos.
Chinye-Nwoko said that the 2025 campaign focuses on Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), specifically, the real-world risks of incomplete or abstinence-only sex education.
She added that the campaign is geared towards equiping young Nigerians with the facts, tools, and confidence to make safe, informed choices.
“Nigeria’s young people deserve accurate, judgment-free information about their bodies, rights, and health options.
“WeNaija 5.0 is about moving beyond silence and stigma to evidence, empathy, and empowerment, so that the next generation can truly own their choices and their futures,” Chinye-Nwoko said.
She noted that WeNaija had previously spotlighted urgent health issues, including COVID-19, HPV vaccination, and drug abuse, mobilising thousands of youths to create videos, spoken word, and visual storytelling that spark public dialogue and spur action.
According to her, building on that momentum, the 2025 edition reframes SRH as both a health and youth-empowerment imperative.
Speaking further on the importance of the conversation on Sexual Reproductive Health, the CEO said that data showed that gaps in SRH education fuel harmful outcomes for young people.
She listed those outcomes to include high rates of adolescent pregnancy, unsafe abortions, and STI/HIV risk, exacerbated by stigma, misinformation, and inconsistent implementation of school curricula.
She explained that Nigeria’s unmet need for family planning remains significant, while adolescent contraceptive use is low and youth-friendly services are often hard to access or judgmental.
“These realities underline the urgency of centering comprehensive, age-appropriate SRH that covers sexual maturity, consent, the benefits of abstinence and safer-sex practices, access to services, and mental-emotional well-being,” Chinye-Nwoko said.
She said that participants, who should be between 18–35 years would create short videos (2–3 minutes) that meets the following requirements:
“Explain what SRH is and why comprehensive education matters.
“Show how incomplete education has affected young people (medically, psychologically, socially, or economically).
“Share youth-led ideas for delivering SRH education that is practical, respectful, and truly helpful.”
She said that for participants to be admitted into the competition, they should register by visiting the NSSF website, www.nigeriasolidarityfund.ng,
record a 2–3-minute video (phone-ready is fine).
“Upload: Post on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok with #OwnYourChoice and tag WeNaija_by NSSF on all platforms.”
The CEO said that the campaign would begin on September 8 and ends on November 8, 2025, while the WeNaija YouthFest & Winners’ would be showcased in December 6, 2025 (10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.,at a venue to be communicated in future.
She added that finalists would be recognised at YouthFest, alongside policy dialogues, expert panels, and creative showcases that advance youth-friendly SRH services and advocacy.
“Our goal is simple: bring clarity where there’s confusion, bring care where there’s judgment, and bring youth to the table where decisions about their health are made,” Chinye-Nwoko said.
