Let’s talk reality things for a second.
In March 2025, nearly 80% of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates scored below 200 – the worst performance since 2021. While the official cut-off is 140, many universities only admit students scoring 200 or more.
Public outcry followed, with the #ThisIsNotMyResult hashtag trending and reports of a candidate’s suicide. Following this, JAMB was forced to admit a system glitch had affected 379,000 candidates across 157 centres.
Makes you wonder what would have happened – or not happened – had people been silent…
Anyway, a resit was scheduled, and the board claimed a record number of candidates then scored 250+ – the best since 2013.
Social media erupted in celebration.
But what about Faith Opesusi Timileyin, the 19-year-old who took her own life after seeing her result?
Of the affected candidates, over 336,000 retook the exam, while 21,000+ were absent. A mop-up test has been promised – but what about the emotional toll? The anxiety? The money and energy spent?
No one has been held accountable. And once the retweets stop, will anything change?
This issue reinforces the need for structure, partnerships, and support systems in our activism efforts, and it’s why we’re here.
Our first Outrage to Action article in the series outlined basic ways to push for change; digital petitions, email campaigns, and mass reporting. We even gave a neat little toolkit to streamline the process of demanding accountability from your political representatives.
This article steps things up a notch; How can young Nigerians mobilise their money, forge partnerships, build movements, and make a difference?
The truth is, it’s hard to turn outrage into action when you’re doing it all by yourself.
Think of a good article – like this one, ahem – what gives it weight are the references backing it up. Movements work the same way. When media houses, legal orgs, or fintechs support a cause, they act as powerful “references,” helping it gain credibility and momentum.
Your choice in ally depends on what your cause is; want to take an offending agency to court? Focus on legal organisations. Want to expose an ugly injustice? Consider allies in the media space.
Trying to raise money for a grassroot project or help victims of injustice get back on their feet? Collaborate with fintechs, crowdfunding platforms, or even local businesses with social impact goals – they can help amplify your reach and streamline donations.
However, for the sake of brevity, we will focus here on legal and media allies. Just a quick quick one.
The Headfort Foundation, and Amnesty International exist to pull the government up on their errors toward you, the citizen.
Legal organisations offer services like
Asking the real questions, hm.
Legal Backing for Campaigns and Protests
The Nigerian government has a nasty reputation for detaining people who speak against their actions. During physical protests, they use the excuse of “keeping the peace” to justify these unlawful incarcerations, and outside of such protests, journalists like Fisayo Soyombo and Dele Farotimi have been detained for bringing ugly stuff to light.
Groups like the aforementioned often step in during such incidences, so, before a protest or campaign, you can contact legal NGOs to put them on standby in case of arrests or government pushback.
You’re ensuring that you have help if anything goes wrong.
Wisdom.
Legal Literacy and Capacity Building
Some believe ignorance is a tool the government uses to keep people subdued.
We agree.
A 2024 UNICEF report shows only 26% of Nigerian kids aged 7–14 have basic reading and math skills, and with an estimated 31% adult illiteracy rate, it’s fair to say many Nigerians aren’t well-versed in the law.
(Side note: there’s no recent data on literacy rates – telling, isn’t it?)
Many legal organisations offer workshops and digital toolkits on key civic issues. You – or your workplace, or even a group of friends with a following – can invite them to speak on Instagram Lives, Twitter Spaces, TikTok, or community group chats.
If possible, take it offline: rent a small hall or market space and host conversations on FOI rights, what to do if arrested, how to sue a government agency, and your rights to protest.
Something something being forewarned and arms?
Petition Review and Strategic Framing
Ask any lawyer you know, law is 90% word choice and nailing the details so you don’t get bamboozled in the future. Why do you think they talk so much?
Anyway, you can collaborate with them by consulting them before launching a petition or statement, as legal groups can help vet the language so it doesn’t unintentionally contain defamation or weak demands.
They can also advise on what laws or rights your campaign should anchor on – which makes your case stronger and more compelling.
Follow who know road o!
Collaborating with media outlets like HumAngle, The Foundation for Investigative Journalism, and journalists like Fisayo Soyombo, and Adesuwa Giwa are ways to solidify your cause because they have a reputation for standing on business when it comes to pressing issues.
And if there is one thing Nigerian issues are, it’s pressing.
The real question is, what can’t the media do? Anyway, media allies can;
Think of the media as a Bluetooth speaker. If the song sounds good on your phone, imagine how much better it’ll be amplified.
Tag them on social media and provide information
As we said in our first article, social media is a great way to get the ball rolling. If you see something happening in your corner – could be your street, area or even state – that isn’t getting enough attention, make a thread on Twitter or a photo dump on Instagram with verified evidence/details, give context in the caption and tag these media houses and/or journalists.
Remember, journalists need strong leads, so make it worth their time.
Even just getting noticed by these organisations and journalists with larger followings improves the chances of the issue being at least seen by people.
Amen?
Pitch Personal Stories
Sometimes, the most powerful stories come directly from those who’ve lived them. These individual experiences might even highlight gaps in some media houses’ coverage.
If you’re a writer – or someone personally affected by government injustice – consider pitching your experience to them. It’s a meaningful way to spotlight the issue beyond social media, and it can also add a published story from a reputable platform to your portfolio.
Saving the world and getting yours out of it too? You’re too much, dear.
Support them financially
Media, like most forward-facing businesses, are expensive to start and run.
Why not support houses that write great stories and publish work that pushes for better?
(Like us)
Media houses, like The Republic or FIJ, accept assistance in varying forms – advertising, partnerships, sponsorships, and donations.
It doesn’t have to be a million Naira, it doesn’t even have to be ₦50k, but in a country where many traditional media outlets have political backing, supporting independent journalism sustains people who are really doing the work.
Abobi, press jare, nothing do you.
Is there really movement without money?
Every revolution needs resources, and what better way to acquire said resources than from the people who need the revolution? Crowdfunding means exactly what it sounds like; gathering money from the masses to push a project forward.
This money can be used for legal fees, trauma counselling, transportation of protesters, digital and traditional campaigns, and if things really get sticky, to protect movement leaders from harm.
The money can also be used to sustain grassroots efforts like building safe shelters, buying relief materials, or running voter education campaigns in underserved communities – lord knows we need those.
Tools like Naijafund and Donate-ng are great for local crowdfunding, as they make it easy for people to donate in Naira, and publicly keep track of how much is being raised.
When writing copy for the campaign, try to keep it tight; a clear goal, urgent language, visuals, and a reason why it matters now – not tomorrow.
Also, remember that transparency is key. After all, you are collecting people’s hard-earned money in an economy that’s already frowning.
Regular updates, clear use of funds, public receipts, and even IG stories showing progress can help communicate a sense of accountability to donors. The EndSARS campaign showed that it’s very possible for people to put their money where their mouths are – they just have to be motivated enough.
Imagine the good that can come of a collaborative crowdfunding campaign backed by The Foundation for Investigative Journalism…
Anyway, we’ve picked some campaigns that we think deserve your coin. Check them out in the Project Nigeria Index below.
Let’s start thinking, people.
Maybe it’s time we take things into our own hands, hm?
In this age, anyone with a smartphone is a media house; you can document in almost every format, and publish from the same device.
It’s easier than ever to be a citizen journalist.
But before you go off to start your own AIT, let’s talk about what counts as a “story.”
Don’t wait for something “big.”
Everyday Nigeria is already a political pot of beans, and news outlets are already reporting the big stories, so, think local, think relevant:
If it affects lives, it’s a story.
Something something about great power and responsibility;
We thought you’d never ask.
Did your mother give birth to you to come and suffer and die?
We highly doubt that, dearest.
So why are we seemingly so content to sit in poop? Nations are sending people to the moon, but we are still tackling wonky power supply.
Giant of Africa, they said you are sleeping, but it’s like you will wake up o.
This waking up starts with you, power is not just in the post – it’s in who you tag, who you fund, and who you inform.
Want to contact a journalist or legal organisation? Launch or donate to a social cause? Get your hands dirty and become a citizen journalist?
That’s what our Project Nigeria Index is for. With us, you can never be stranded.
Collaborate for better
Headfort Foundation
Amnesty International Nigeria
Educare
HumAngle
FIJ
BudgIT
Primorg
Crowdfund for justice
Naijafund
Donate-ng
Paystack
Project Alert NG
Citizen journalism, anyone?
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