NFM Weekly Digest: Women Are Still Making Their Own Space

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From an eight-year-old girl whose childhood peace was stolen by rape to women being told what their bodies should look like, what music belongs on a dance floor and what kind of life they should want, this week’s stories touched on the different ways women and girls are forced to navigate a world that keeps placing limits on them. But there was plenty to celebrate too: women winning scholarships and international awards, making history in academia and politics, creating art, building careers and taking up space in rooms where they have not always been expected to be. We also looked at the misinformation, discrimination and violence women continue to face, and the people pushing back against it. Here’s what happened this week; click on the links to read the full stories.

1. Mali’s ‘Yes to FGM’ is Sold as Protection. It’s Control.

A coordinated social media campaign defending female genital mutilation (FGM) emerged across Malian platforms in August, days after a national NGO put up anti-FGM posters in Bamako. 

2. After 52 Applications, Nigerian Creative Misturah Owolabi Wins Commonwealth Scholarship

Misturah Abisola Owolabi, popularly known as Misty, a Cannes Lions-winning Nigerian creative, has secured a fully funded Master’s Scholarship to Sussex University after 52 applications.

3. We Need More Feminist DJs: The Invisibility of Female Artistes’ Music on Dance Floor

I have been to women’s events, women celebrating women, and the DJ will still be playing mostly male singers’ music. I will be sitting there thinking, what the hell is going on? This is a female event. We have female musicians. We have Tiwa Savage. We have Seyi Shay. We have Simi. We have Waje. We have Ayra Starr. There are so many all over. You cannot tell me that we don’t have enough songs from women to fill one event playlist. 

4. Nigerian Man, Hussaini Suleiman Sentenced for Raping 8-Year-Old Girl in Minna

A Niger State High Court sitting in Minna has convicted and sentenced 27-year-old Hussaini Suleiman to seven years’ imprisonment for raping an 8-year-old girl at his residence behind the Prison Quarters, Minna, Niger State.

5. Hon Natasha Osawaru Idibia Reveals Presidential Ambition

On Sunday, September 13, 2026, Hon. Natasha Osawaru Idibia declared her ambition to become Nigeria’s president. She made this declaration at her grandfather Chief Gabriel Igbinedion’s 92nd birthday celebration in Benin City, Edo State.

6. Real Warri Pikin Beats Trevor Noah, Basketmouth, Bovi to Win Best Stand-Up Comedian at AFRIMMA 2026

Nigerian comedian Anita Asuoha, popularly known as Real Warri Pikin, has won Best Stand-Up Comedian at the 2026 African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA), held on September 12 at Annette Strauss Square in Dallas, Texas. The win marks her first AFRIMMA title. 

7. American Artist Tschabalala Self Unveils Lady in Blue Statue to Celebrate Londoners’ Spirit

Tschabalala Self, a prominent American contemporary artist, has unveiled a profound statue titled “Lady in Blue” at Trafalgar Square, London. This new statue occupied the prestigious Fourth Plinth as the 16th contemporary art commission and was officially installed on Thursday, September 10, 2026. 

8. Senator Oluremi Tinubu Awards Maryam Ibrahim, Winner of International Quranic Competition, N20m

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has awarded N20 million to Maryam Ibrahim Dan’Azumi, the winner of the 46th King Abdulaziz International Qur’anic Competition for the female category. The money was presented to the awardee at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

9. Papaya Ex’s 2.7 Million-View Film Deleted By the Man She Hired to Manage It

Nigerian actress and content creator, Abike Raheem, popularly known as  Papaya Ex, broke down in an emotional video after claiming her YouTube manager deleted her film, The Spotlight, from the platform. The movie had reportedly amassed 2.7 million views and over 10,000 comments before it disappeared.

10. Chimamanda Says Her Feelings for Nigeria Have Changed, But Her Children’s Love Will Bring Her Back

In an interview with The New York Times published on September 11, 2026, award-winning Nigerian-American author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie stated that the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi, on January 7, 2026, has fundamentally changed how she feels about Nigeria. 

11. “I Deactivated My Account to Protect My Family”— Uju Anya Tells Critics

Nigerian-born academic Uju Anya has deactivated her X account, saying she took the step to protect her family after a day of violent threats, racist abuse and harassment directed at her online.

12. How Malnutrition, Child Labour Threaten Sokoto Girls’ Future

There was no sign of childhood innocence or curiosity on Umaimah’s face when she was first seen skimming through the smelly waste bag left outside a student hostel at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS), in search of something edible.

13. Funke Akindele, Kate Henshaw, Ini Edo, Others Pay Tribute to Late Olu Jacobs

Nollywood actresses including Funke Akindele, Kate Henshaw, Ini Edo, Mercy Johnson-Okojie, and Kemi Lala Akindoju joined fans to pay tribute to industry colleague Olu Jacobs, who died at age 84.

14. Zenith Bank CEO, Adaora Umeoji, Falsely Described as Unmarried to Make Sexist Claims

Claim: An X user claimed Dr Adaora Umeoji, CEO of Zenith Bank, is “still unmarried,” does not want a man, and would only accept one “richer than her,” using this to make the sexist claim that successful women are “brutal” and fail to “uplift” men the way men supposedly uplift women. Verdict: False. Dr Adaora is married to Dr Emmanuel Nwokoye, a medical doctor and entrepreneur, and the couple have children. This has been publicly documented since before her 2024 appointment as CEO. The claimant utilised the misinformation to cast sexist aspersions against the Zenith Bank CEO and women in general.

15. Minister of Women Affairs, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Warn Against Sharing Child Abuse Videos

Honourable Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the Minister of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, has issued a strict warning to Nigerians against downloading, reposting or circulating videos of children being abused. She said such actions violate the victims’ rights and deepen their trauma. This warning was stated on Sunday, September 13, 2026. 

16. Senator Oluremi Tinubu Awards Maryam Ibrahim, Winner of International Quranic Competition, N20m

First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has awarded N20 million to Maryam Ibrahim Dan’Azumi, the winner of the 46th King Abdulaziz International Qur’anic Competition for the female category. The money was presented to the awardee at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

17. Farida Bungudu Made History as ABU Law Best Graduating Student from North-Western State

Farida Bungudu, a Law graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, made history as the first student from Zamfara State to emerge as Overall Best Graduating Student in the LL.B Class of 2026 with First Class Honours. The university announced her feat on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.