By Aishatu kabu Damboa
In today’s world, advocacy often begins with a post, a hashtag, or a rallying cry across social media. But how many of us pause to ask: What is the real impact of these efforts? Social media can amplify voices, yet true change requires far more than likes, shares, or fleeting trends.
As someone who has spent years raising awareness and advocating for menstrual hygiene management and the fight against period poverty, I have learned that meaningful change happens behind the scenes—through strategic advocacy, policy influence, and persistent engagement with decision-makers.
Advocacy Beyond Awareness
For years, I have worked to highlight issues surrounding menstrual hygiene, particularly in schools. My advocacy has focused on ensuring that girls in Borno State have access to free menstrual hygiene products.
Although this is not yet enshrined as state policy, the impact is undeniable. Over the last four years, no visit by the Commissioner of Education or His Excellency to public schools—especially girls’ or mixed schools—has taken place without the distribution of hygiene kits. This consistent practice demonstrates how advocacy can quietly shape priorities, even before laws are passed.
I have also witnessed how accountability can be enforced through advocacy. On several occasions, contractors were compelled to return to schools to repair water systems that had failed just days after installation. These interventions may not make headlines, but they directly improve the lives of students.
Why I Don’t Call Out Government Online
Some may wonder why I don’t publicly criticize the government on social media. The truth is, advocacy is not about noise—it’s about results. While I may not post condemnations online, I consistently write to government officials when I see gaps that need urgent attention. Constructive engagement, backed by data, often achieves more than public outrage.
Social media plays a vital role in raising awareness and mobilizing communities, but it has limited influence on actual policy decisions. Real change requires direct dialogue with those who hold the power to act.
From Criticism to Solution-Based Activism
I understand the passion of those who believe posting online can change their communities—I was once like them. But through national and international platforms, advocacy networks, and capacity-building opportunities, I have learned that lasting impact comes from solution-based activism.
When I reflect on the lives directly touched by my work—and the countless others who benefit indirectly—I find more than a hundred reasons to continue advocating strategically rather than criticizing loudly.
The Path to Real Change
Creating meaningful impact demands patience, persistence, and a willingness to work behind the scenes. It is not about chasing visibility or applause, but about:
– Building relationships and networks
– Influencing policies with evidence
– Ensuring accountability
– Creating sustainable solutions
For those passionate about change, the call is clear: be strategic, collaborative, and committed. Advocacy is not about the advocate—it is about the lives transformed and the futures secured.
As I look back on my journey, I am reminded that the work I do is not for recognition, but for the girls who now have dignity in their classrooms, for the schools that now have functioning water systems, and for the communities that are slowly but surely changing.
To everyone reading this, I hope this piece inspires you to go beyond hashtags and embrace the hard but rewarding work of creating real change.
Aishatu Kabu writes from Maiduguri.
