400,000
Facebook fans within 18 months
Passion for change
The Love Matters Naija team represent a new generation of young Nigerians who are passionate about their sexual health and want to bring about change in the country’s attitudes to youth SRHR. LM Naija aims to be a responsive online community where young people can get the pleasure positive and non-judgmental information they need to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health. The platform also wants to contribute to building a more inclusive Nigeria for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
The strength and vibrancy of Nigeria’s media and its leading position in Africa’s tech landscape strengthen the potential impact of Love Matters Naija’s digital and media-savvy approach.
Love Matters Naija
Talking about sex with young Nigerians
Love Matters Naija began life as a Facebook page in June 2018 targeting young Nigerians with pleasure-positive information about sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). The Facebook page took off rapidly and a dedicated website was launched in June 2020.
Conversation with their online community is at the heart of Love Matters Naija’s work and a bond of trust has been created with the audience – meaning young Nigerians are willing to share intimate stories from their lives on love, sex and everything in-between.
Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country, with an estimated population of 203.9 million, almost 63 percent of whom are under 24 years of age. Nigeria is also one of the few countries in Africa that has adopted a national policy on school-based comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) but implementation is patchy and often controversial. Norms around SRHR, especially for young, unmarried people, are generally conservative and strongly influenced by the prevalence and importance of religious belief – both Christian and Islamic.
Talking the talk
The local team is comprised of young media professionals with a background in sexual health. There is also a diverse network of contributors across the country, experienced in writing about love, sex and relationships. They use a conversational tone of voice to that is relatable to a young audience and social media posts are liberally sprinkled with slang and local languages which encourages the audience to share and engage with the content.
As well as the website and Facebook, LM Naija is active on Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter and YouTube. Regular spots on local radio stations help widen the reach to those who may have limited or no online access.
SRHR for all
With AmplifyChange funding, LM Naija is implementing the Rights, evidence, action – amplifying youth voices programme (REA) which promotes acceptance of SRHR for young people including LGBT persons. The REA programme is a collaboration between Love Matters and CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality. Love Matters’ digital media approach complements CHOICE’s youth-led advocacy activities. Implemented together with local partners Education as a Vaccine, Equality Triangle Initiative and Increse , the REA programme advocates for inclusive SRHR both via mainstream media and policy mechanisms at the national, regional and international level.
Love Matters Naija is interestingly amazing as it would always help in handling relationship issues, also maintaining healthy relationships.
Love Matters Naija fan Samuel Olokpo
Sexual health is very important topic, and Love Matters removes the taboo around the subject by making it relatable and informative.
Love Matters Naija fan Margaret Agwu
Explore the possibilities on love, sex and relationships
Would you like to join us in creating safe spaces for young people to make informed choices to have safer, healthier and happier sex and relationships? Please contact us to explore the possibilities.
Love Matters projects
© LOVE MATTERS | Rita Lino
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