GAN Recognises NFM Founder, Simbiat Bakare, for Redefining How Media Serves Women

Summary: Global Activists Network has recognised NFM founder Simbiat Bakare for redefining how media serves women through journalism, technology, and advocacy that advances gender equality in Nigeria.

Global Activists Network (GAN), a youth-led and women-led initiative focused on spotlighting and supporting grassroots activists, has recognised the founding director of Naija Feminists Media, Simbiat Bakare, for redefining how the media serves women.

Simbiat is an investigative journalist and the founder of Naija Feminists Media, where she leads a coalition of feminists using media and technology to improve women’s representation in the news and promote gender equality in Nigeria.

In a post on X on April 20, 2026, under its Changemaker Spotlight Series, the organisation said Through her work, Simbiat is redefining how media serves women, using journalism, technology, and advocacy to amplify voices and advance gender equality. 

GAN noted that despite facing threats and limited funding, the NFM founder continues to lead boldly, demonstrating how courageous storytelling can drive real change. It added that she has received death threats for her online advocacy and operates without funding support, yet her platform has contributed to impactful projects supporting women across different groups, including entrepreneurs, women in politics and women with disabilities.

Her work has been featured in major outlets, including Premium Times, The Guardian, The Cable, and Modern Ghana. One of her recent investigations exposed how vulnerable women were recruited via Facebook and exploited in surrogacy-related schemes, leading Meta to shut down over nine groups with more than 32,000 members.

“Simbiat Bakare welcomes collaboration from investigative journalists, feminist organisations, media houses, digital rights advocates, NGOs, CSOs, and development partners who are passionate about advancing gender equality, strengthening women’s representation in media, promoting media literacy, and protecting vulnerable women from online and offline exploitation towards driving impactful social change in Nigeria and beyond,” the global activist network states.