Youth Hub Africa (YHA), a non-governmental organisation, has concluded its four-week virtual course on community-based social activism.

Divided into four modules that spanned four weeks, the course was inspired by the October 2020 nationwide #EndSARS protest. It lasted from April 11 to 30.

The courses were on governance and citizenship, activating social changes, organising for reforms, and basic digital tools for social activism.

Haruna Gudia, a participant from Abuja, said the course was insightful as he learned about social change. He stated that he had now developed the skills to lead advocacy because of the course.

Gladys Japhet, another participant, said she learnt how she could leverage her social media platforms to push for human rights.

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“Digital activism has opened my eyes to how I can be involved in social activism. I can now contribute my quota without being on the street,” she said.

Kenneth Paul, a participant from Bauchi, said his most significant moment during the training was how the teachers demystified the concept of digital activism for him, while Ruth Sunday, another participant, said she was grateful for the privilege of learning how to engage in social activism. She said she learned how to take advantage of her social media presence to build an audience while using digital tools for activism.

Stating how the course inspired her to be bold, Nsikeanabasi Asana, one participant, said she learnt to be courageous enough to go for the social course she had in mind.

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She said that people should fight for any course that pops up in their hearts without letting the opinions of others kill it.

Some of the course facilitators were Sola Fagorusi, executive director and team lead at Onelife Initiative for Human Development; Rotimi Olawale, co-founder of YHA and communications consultant; and Ibrahim Faruk from YIAGA Africa.

In his feedback to YHA, Faruk said the programme built on the gains of #EndSARS protest and the momentum it generated.

“The topic that I facilitated on ‘Organizing for Reforms’ focused on sharing, learning and experiences from previous organizing efforts that go as far back as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, as well as contemporary movements such as the #NotTooYoungToRun. I would recommend that more topics focus on movement building and how to transform the #EndSARS protests from a moment to a true movement,” he said.

“I was particularly impressed with the aspect of reading materials that were provided to participants each week. However, it was difficult to gauge the number of participants who read the materials. The participants, as is the case with many other sessions I have facilitated online, were focused on asking questions that relate to them specifically (specific situations) rather than a broad understanding of Organising for reforms or movement building. I would recommend that participants are made to write reflection papers on their experiences, or articles from their learnings during the training. Either taking a case study and relating it to what they have learned or how they are using what they have learned in the work they currently are engaged in.”

Although 803 applicants registered for the programme, YHA only selected 100 applicants from Oyo, Ebonyi, Bauchi State, and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, to participate in the training.

They gave these 100 people e-certificates of participation and data stipends at the end of the course.

The course is part of a collaborative effort between YHA, Onelife Initiative, Cedar Seed Foundation, and FIJ, with support from Voice, a grant project of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is implemented in ten countries in Africa and Asia.