Voice Nigeria: Reflecting on 8 Years of Transformative Impact
On May 16th, 2024, we gathered to mark the culmination of an extraordinary journey—the official close-out of the Voice program in Nigeria. Aptly titled “Murya”, meaning Voice in Hausa, the event celebrated eight years of amplifying marginalized voices, fostering inclusion, and driving sustainable change.
Funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implemented by Oxfam Novib and Hivos, Voice has championed the principle of “Nothing about us without us (Now-Us)” across ten countries in Southeast Asia and Africa, including Nigeria. For Cognito, the three years spent as Linking and Learning Facilitators for Voice Nigeria were a remarkable experience that reinforced the power of collaboration, storytelling, and innovation.
The Cognito team - Linking and Learning facilitators for the Voice project in Nigeria
What Was Voice All About?
Voice was a grant facility dedicated to empowering marginalized groups, including persons with disabilities, women facing violence and exploitation, indigenous communities, ethnic minorities, and age-discriminated groups like youth and the elderly. In Nigeria, the program provided these rightsholders with resources and platforms to advocate for their rights, amplify their voices, and catalyze lasting societal changes.
Linking and Learning: The Catalyst for Change
Central to Voice’s success was its “linking and learning” approach—a dynamic process that encouraged collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and scaling of impactful projects. This methodology helped grantees harness collective experiences, learn from setbacks, and create transformative solutions.
As the Linking and Learning Facilitators for Voice Nigeria, Cognito played a pivotal role in weaving these connections. Through human-centered design, creative storytelling, and strategic communication, we supported grantees in sharing their experiences, celebrating their wins, and amplifying their advocacy efforts.
A Celebration of Impact
The Murya close-out event served as a platform to reflect on the inspiring journey of the Voice program in Nigeria. From grassroots initiatives to national-level advocacy, grantees and rightsholders have redefined resilience, innovation, and inclusivity.
To delve deeper into these achievements, we invite you to explore Murya - Voice Impact Stories, a comprehensive document highlighting the program’s successes and lessons. You can also relive the moments from the Murya event and other powerful stories of change on our YouTube channel.
Key Learnings from Voice
Inclusion Enhances Sustainability: Centering rightsholders in program design and implementation ensures relevance and longevity.
Collaboration Fuels Progress: Partnerships with grantees, stakeholders, and the community amplify advocacy and impact.
Adaptation Drives Innovation: Creative and flexible approaches empower grantees to navigate challenges effectively.
Beyond Voice
While the Voice program in Nigeria has officially concluded, its legacy lives on in the communities it touched and the change it sparked. At Cognito, we remain committed to championing equity, inclusion, and social justice, inspired by the transformative journey of Voice.
For more information about Voice, visit www.voicenaija.org
