Media development action with informed and engaged societies
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Get It Together Radio Dramas

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In February 2012 the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) launched three 26-episode radio drama magazine programmes in Nigeria to encourage wider acceptance of family planning and to inform Nigerians of the benefits of modern family planning/child spacing. Titled Komin Nisan Jifa (Hausa programme), Ireti Eda (Yoruba programme), and Second Chance (Pidgin programme), the series combine entertainment and education to foster dialogue around family planning in Kaduna, Abuja, Ilorin, and Ibadan cities. The dramas were produced by Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs (JHU-CCP).
Communication Strategies

Each of the 26 radio programme episodes features a friendly host and hostess, drama, talk, music, comedy elements, vox pop, testimonials, and an expert corner where listeners’ questions are answered. Listeners compete for gifts by correctly answering weekly quiz questions via SMS. The episodes will depict how real Nigerians can overcome challenges to achieving their life goals, and are designed to encourage discussion in communities, in homes between spouses, at work, in daily life, and in the media.

 

The radio dramas are part of the "Get It Together - Know, Talk, Go" mass media campaign which encourages all Nigerians to KNOW the facts about family planning, TALK to their partner, and GO for services.

 

The media campaign is accompanied by social mobilisation activities. In each project city the Youth Urban Mobilization plan utilises advocacy champions, local peer educators, trade unions, and faith-based institutions to organise community and electronic media activities. "Get it Together" crews serve as on the ground mobilisation agents infusing interpersonal communication among friends, family, and communities with information about family planning and motivation to seek services.

Radio listeners can check out what everyone is saying about the programmes on the different Facebook pages: Get It Together–Ibadan, Get It Together–Ilorin, Get It Together–FCT, and Get It Together–Kaduna.

Development Issues

Family Planning

Key Points

NURHI is a five-year project (2009-2014) designed to increase use of modern contraceptive methods in the six Nigerian cities of Abuja, Benin, Ibadan, Ilorin, Kaduna,  and Zaria, with a focus on the urban poor. Through a strategic combination of service delivery, communication, and advocacy inputs the NURHI project is working to increase demand for and supply of family planning, ultimately leading to long-term market-driven sustainability.

Partners

Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI), Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs (JHU-CCP)

Sources