Author: Christiana Alabi-Akande

In Nigeria, myths around virginity continue to shape how young girls and women experience menstruation. Many girls fear tampons could ‘take away’ their purity by breaking the hymen. In this piece,  Christiana Alabi-Akande, provides answers to pertinent questions as guided by medical experts.  Girls and women face diverse challenges during menstruation, many of which stem from deep-rooted social and cultural beliefs and societal expectations that limit certain behaviours or discussions. One example is the stigma surrounding the use of tampons. In Nigeria, and in many other parts of the world, the hymen (piece of tissue that covers the vagina), is…

The first part of this investigation narrates harrowing accounts of sexually abused children and the deep scars they now live with. But beyond these personal stories lies a bigger picture, one painted in stark numbers. In this second part, DevReporting’s Christiana Alabi-Akande went undercover to some police stations in Lagos to expose how security operatives extort families of victims, even at their vulnerable moments. What data shows Investigations by DevReporting have revealed grim statistics of sexually abused children in Lagos, a city nicknamed Nigeria’s commercial capital and one of the largest and fastest-growing economies in Africa. In 2020 alone, the…

In Lagos State, Nigeria’s sprawling megacity, sexually abused children from poor homes endure a second betrayal, a justice system riddled with extortion, indifference, and impunity. As anguished families wrestle with endless delays and crushing costs, perpetrators roam free. In this investigation, Christiana Alabi-Akande unveils how poverty silences the vulnerable, transforming justice from a basic right into a luxury only a few can afford. On Wednesday, 30 September 2020, Favour Okechukwu, 11, was gang-raped to death in Ejigbo, a low-income suburb in Lagos State. The victim’s family had expected swift justice, but almost five years later, it remains a mirage. Frustrated…

They wake up each day unsure of where their next meal will come from; their wrinkled hands tremble not just from age, but also from hunger and despair, the consequences of poor and unpaid pensions. In this special report, Christiana Alabi-Akande & Sodiq Mojibola, who monitored the protest in Lagos, shared the ugly experiences of the country’s aged generation. For many Nigerian pensioners, retirement is not the peaceful rest they envisioned after decades of service. Instead, it is a daily struggle for survival, with delayed payments, unexplained deductions, and broken promises draining whatever dignity old age should bring. DevReporting gathered…

Born into a family of scientists, Daniella Okamgba chose law and made history. A bold stand for justice at her military boarding school lit a spark that set her apart early on. She clinched top honours as Babcock University’s best graduating law student in 2023 and went on to shine at the Nigerian Law School, earning five prestigious awards, standing out among over 5,700 new lawyers.  In this interview with DevReporting, she spoke on how her story is proof that faith, focus, and fierce determination can take anyone anywhere. DR: What inspired you to study law, and how did your…

Amid the ongoing quota crisis at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), the National Universities Commission (NUC), the country’s regulatory body for university education, has clarified that the institution did not breach any regulatory provision to warrant the strong hammer recently wielded by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN). A Deputy Director in charge of Academic Planning and Head of Resources and Strategic Planning at NUC, Nte Bisong, said his agency, as a creation of the country’s constitution, is responsible for the accreditation of programmes and allocation of quotas for Nigerian universities, and not the responsibility of professional bodies.…

Due to the institution’s continued disregard for admission quota, the fate of about 300 dental students of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Cross River State, is currently hanging in the balance as the institution’s authorities have reportedly asked the hapless students to “go and learn a trade”. DevReporting shares the pathetic details in this report. When the Provost of the College of Medical Sciences at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Cross River State, South-South Nigeria, Ngim Ngim, a professor, allegedly told the institution’s dental students to “go and learn a trade,” his words were said to have cut deeper than…

At just 19, Aishah Mabayoje is already making waves in the world of technology. Graduating as the overall best student at the 2024/2025 convocation ceremony of the European University of Lefke (EUL) in northern Cyprus, the computer engineer has built AI solutions to bridge communication barriers and excelled at global tech competitions. In a chat with DevReporting, the young engineer, eldest of five siblings, shares her journey of grit, vision and why she believes young African engineers must create solutions that truly impact lives. Excerpt. DR: On moments and influences that sparked her interest in technology and engineering: Aishah: My…

It’s been exactly one week since a devastating attack ravaged Yelwata community in Benue State, North-central Nigeria, leaving over 100 people dead, many injured, and thousands displaced.  The attack, which targeted innocent civilians, was among the deadliest in recent months in Nigeria’s long-running conflict between farming communities and herders, which has intensified due to disputes over land, water access, migration routes, and livestock damage. Multiple sources said the attackers doused roadside stalls and makeshift shelters with petrol before setting them ablaze. It was one attack, too many. Victims of the attack includes Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from communities including Antsa,…

Nigeria’s children are facing multiple threats as they are being failed by the system. They are left unvaccinated, malnourished, and without access to education, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and vulnerability that threatens their very future. When President Bola Tinubu addressed them on Tuesday to mark this year’s Children’s Day, he spoke glowingly about his administration’s plans for the future leaders, saying this year’s theme, “Stand Up, Speak Up: Building a Bullying-Free Generation,” “could not have been more timely as it speaks directly to the culture we are building.” Mr Tinubu said his administration is building “a culture where every…