I Like Girls

In the final episode of this series, we explore various ways, big or small, to support and encourage women's participation in politics in Nigeria. Through the voices of experts Solape Sonuga and Maryam Mairo Ibrahim, we learn how to create a level playing field for women in political leadership and what the future holds for women in elections.

In 2018, Nigerian lawyer and politician Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan publicly announced her intentions to run for a seat in the Nigerian Senate, representing the people of Kogi Central. What began as a journey to advocate for laws favoring industrialization in the country led to years of political intimidation, gender bias, and violence for her.

This episode explores Natasha's turbulent journey to becoming Kogi State's first woman senator. It also sheds light on how Nigeria's constitution grants women the right to run for office, but in reality, the experience is painful and difficult.

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In Nigeria, the experience of running for office is vastly different for women compared to their male counterparts. Women often have to contend with prejudice and stereotypes that question their ability to lead.

In this episode, we explore the history of women in politics and governance in Nigeria before democracy, as well as the current landscape and barriers for women, through insights from Solape Sonuga, Policy and Strategic Partnerships Manager at ElectHer. Additionally, through the story of Benue State politician, Sewuese Bem, we explore what it's like for a young woman vying for space in the political arena. Sewuese shares her experiences running for the Benue State House of Assembly elections in 2019, as well as her 2023 campaign for a seat in the Federal House of Representatives.

To get inside information about every episode, subscribe to our newsletter here. You will get behind-the-scenes information from Aisha Salaudeen.

I Like Girls returns on March 8 with a limited series focusing on Nigerian women in politics and governance. We feature stories about the experiences of women in politics in Africa's most populous nation, the challenges they face when running for office, and discussions on how to support women seeking roles in the political arena.

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When she turned 20, South African youtuber, entrepreneur and student, Zinhle Mnguni, was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Before her diagnosis, she spent a significant part of her life dealing with symptoms she didn’t understand. In this episode, she talks about what it’s like living with a mental health disorder, and how she is able to work through hard days.
Through her story, we learn the importance of mental awareness as well as how to help loved ones who may be struggling mentally.
Zinhle’s Youtube channel:here.
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Fike Odulaja spent a significant part of her life studying and preparing to be a lawyer. But when she started practicing at the age of 23, she realized that the profession wasn’t for her. She made the difficult decision to quit and start from scratch, crafting a new path for herself. In this episode, she opens up about her new beginnings and what it took for her to reinvent herself in a new field - product management. Through her story, we learn about the power of self-discovery and how, as women, it’s okay to carve out new career paths.

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Simi and Nma are best friends in a long-distance friendship. Despite not having seen each other in person since 2019, their bond remains as unbreakable as ever. In this episode, they discuss meeting each other in university, growing into becoming best friends and how they navigate being thousands of kilometers apart. Through their inspiring story, we gain insight into the profound significance of female friendships and the powerful role women play in supporting one another.

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Across the globe, many women adopt their husband's surname post-marriage. In Nigeria, there's no legal obligation to do this, but it remains standard practice. However, a growing number of women are challenging this norm and sticking by their birthnames even after marriage.
Nigerian artist, entrepreneur and designer, Damilola Marcus is one of them. In this episode, opens up about how her name is an integral part of her identity and shares some thoughts on the tradition of changing names post-marriage. She also discusses the pushback she sometimes gets for choosing to retain her birth name.
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In November 2022, after almost two years of dealing with pockets of targeted harassment on social media, Zippie Githaiga, aka Spicy, chose to log off from her social media accounts. The Kenyan producer and radio presenter had been subjected to cyberbullying by bloggers and social media users due to her choice of wearing a short blue dress during one of her radio interviews.

In this episode, Spicy discusses the impact that this experience had on her as well as how she managed to find solace amidst the deluge of hurtful comments. She also addresses the societal tendency to exert control over women's decisions, including personal matters such as their clothing preferences.
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British-Nigerian aesthetician, Maxymilia’s life was significantly shaped by her Nigerian parents' decisions. Throughout her childhood, she found herself obliged to conform to her parent's wishes, leaving little room to express her own desires. In this episode, Maxymilia opens up about how her upbringing profoundly influenced her educational, career, and relationship choices. Particularly, she discusses her initial struggles with the concept of marriage due to the lasting impact of her parent's influence, as well as her journey of healing and growth from those experiences.
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